The defect
TRANSPORTATION COLLABORATIVE INC. (TCI) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 SCHOOL BUSES MODELS SST 30 PAK, STH4+9, STH4, STH5RL, ST5, ST4, DW4+9139, DW5193FRL, DW5139, DW5+9195, DW5+9159FRL, DW6159FRL, AND DW6159 MANUFACTURED ON CHEVROLET EXPRESS AND GMC SAVANA CHASSIS FROM FEBRUARY 2009 THROUGH APRIL 15, 2010. THE HVAC CONTROL KNOBS MAY FRACTURE AND SPIN ON THE CONTROL SHAFT CAUSING THE OPERATOR TO BE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE DEFROST SYSTEM. THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 103, "WINDSHEILD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEM."
The risk
IF THIS CONDITION AFFECTS THE DEFROST SYSTEM WHEN IT IS REQUIRED, IT MAY DECREASE THE DRIVER'S VISIBILITY, POSSIBILY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
The remedy
TCI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 29, 2010. OWNER MAY CONTACT TCI AT 1-845-988-0419.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Trans Tech DW4+9139 | 2009, 2010 |
| Trans Tech DW5+9159FRL | 2009, 2010 |
| Trans Tech DW5+9195 | 2009, 2010 |
| Trans Tech DW5139 | 2009, 2010 |
| Trans Tech DW5193FRL | 2009, 2010 |
| Trans Tech DW6159 | 2009, 2010 |
| Trans Tech DW6159FRL | 2009, 2010 |
| Trans Tech SST 30 PAK | 2009, 2010 |
| Trans Tech ST4 | 2009, 2010 |
| Trans Tech ST5 | 2009, 2010 |
| Trans Tech STH4 | 2009, 2010 |
| Trans Tech STH4+9 | 2009, 2010 |
| Trans Tech STH5RL | 2009, 2010 |
Components: VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Trans Tech DW4+9139 | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech DW4+9139 | 2010 | 0 | 2 |
| Trans Tech DW5+9159FRL | 2009 | 0 | 3 |
| Trans Tech DW5+9159FRL | 2010 | 0 | 3 |
| Trans Tech DW5+9195 | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech DW5+9195 | 2010 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech DW5139 | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech DW5139 | 2010 | 0 | 2 |
| Trans Tech DW5193FRL | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech DW5193FRL | 2010 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech DW6159 | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech DW6159 | 2010 | 0 | 2 |
| Trans Tech DW6159FRL | 2009 | 0 | 2 |
| Trans Tech DW6159FRL | 2010 | 0 | 3 |
| Trans Tech SST 30 PAK | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech SST 30 PAK | 2010 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech ST4 | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech ST4 | 2010 | 0 | 2 |
| Trans Tech ST5 | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech ST5 | 2010 | 0 | 2 |
| Trans Tech STH4 | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech STH4 | 2010 | 0 | 2 |
| Trans Tech STH4+9 | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech STH4+9 | 2010 | 0 | 2 |
| Trans Tech STH5RL | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Trans Tech STH5RL | 2010 | 0 | 1 |
Other visibility recalls in 2010
25 of the 647 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2010 concerned the visibility; TRANS TECH BUS filed 15 campaigns in all.
| 10V625000 13 Dec 2010 | SETRA OF NORTH AMERICA |
| 10V614000 10 Dec 2010 | S&C AUTOMOTIVE |
| 10V602000 3 Dec 2010 | PRECISION AUTO UPHOLSTERY, INC. |
| 10V603000 1 Dec 2010 | VAN HOOL N.V. |
| 10V578000 12 Nov 2010 | JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 10V547000 5 Nov 2010 | ATTENTION TO DETAIL, INC. |
| 10V543000 5 Nov 2010 | DON'S AUTO UPHOLSTERY |
| 10V546000 5 Nov 2010 | AUTO ADDITIONS, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2010