The defect
CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION RELEASE." THE REAR EXIT DOOR HANDLE IS NOT RECESSED WHICH CAN CATCH ON AN ARTICLE OF CLOTHING OR A BACK PACK, INADVERTENTLY OPENING THE DOOR. ALSO, THE REQUIRED POSITIVE DOOR OPENING DEVICE FOR REAR EXIT DOOR DOES NOT HOLD THE DOOR AT 90 DEGREES WITH THE BODY.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, AND THE VEHICLE ENDS UP ON ITS SIDE, THE DOOR WILL NOT OPERATE PROPERLY POSSIBLY HINDERING RAPID EGRESS FROM THE VEHICLE.
The remedy
LIBERTY BUS WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND A METAL BEZEL WILL BE INSTALLED AROUND THE HANDLE TO RECESS IT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 2, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT LIBERTY BUS AT 419-227-6554.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by OVSC
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Liberty Spirit | 2003 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberty Spirit | 2003 | 1 | 4 |
Other structure recalls in 2004
44 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the structure; LIBERTY BUS INCORPORATED filed 4 campaigns in all.
| 04V601000 30 Dec 2004 | PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V588000 13 Dec 2004 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. |
| 04V569000 3 Dec 2004 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 04V564000 30 Nov 2004 | HONDA (AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO.) |
| 04V563000 23 Nov 2004 | VERITRANS SPECIALTY VEHICLES, INC. |
| 04V545000 15 Nov 2004 | ORION BUS INDUSTRIES LTD. |
| 04V533000 2 Nov 2004 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 04V523000 2 Nov 2004 | BIG DOG MOTORCYCLES, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004