The defect
VAN HOOL IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2011 TRANSIT BUSES AND MOTORCOACHES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 2002 THROUGH OCTOBER 2010, EQUIPPED WITH HADLEY REMOTE MIRROR SWITCHES, PART NUMBERS 509VH AND 509VH1F. THE REAR VIEW MIRROR SWITCH MAY OVERHEAT, CAUSING THE PLASTIC HOUSING TO MELT.
The risk
EXCESSIVE HEATING CAN CAUSE A FIRE RESULTING IN SMOKE, OPERATOR DISTRACTION, OR PERSONAL INJURY. AN OVERHEATED MIRROR SWITCH COULD CAUSE THE EXTERIOR REAR VIEW MIRRORS TO NOT OPERATE. THE MIRRORS MAY NOT ADJUST PROPERLY FROM THE INTERIOR SWITCH OR OPERATE POORLY. THEREFORE, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO HAVE FULL USE OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
VAN HOOL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS VIA ITS DEALER ABC BUS INC. OWNERS WILL HAVE THE CHOICE TO PERFORM THE REPAIR THEMSELVES OR TO TAKE THE VEHICLE(S) TO AN ABC-LOCATION FOR REPAIR, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 10, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THE WARRANTY ADMINISTRATOR FOR ABC BUS, INC. TOLL FREE AT 1-877-427-7278.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Van Hool A300K | 2006, 2008, 2009 |
| Van Hool A300K HYB | 2005 |
| Van Hool A300 L | 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Van Hool A330 | 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Van Hool A330FC | 2004, 2007 |
| Van Hool AG300 | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009 |
| Van Hool C2045 | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Van Hool T2140 | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Van Hool T2145 | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
| Van Hool TD925 | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Components: VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:INTERIOR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Hool A300 L | 2008 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool A300 L | 2009 | 0 | 2 |
| Van Hool A300 L | 2010 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool A300K | 2006 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool A300K | 2008 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool A300K | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool A300K HYB | 2005 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool A330 | 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool A330 | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool A330 | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool A330FC | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool A330FC | 2007 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool AG300 | 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool AG300 | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool AG300 | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool AG300 | 2006 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool AG300 | 2007 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool AG300 | 2009 | 0 | 2 |
| Van Hool C2045 | 2006 | 0 | 8 |
| Van Hool C2045 | 2007 | 0 | 6 |
| Van Hool C2045 | 2008 | 0 | 4 |
| Van Hool C2045 | 2009 | 0 | 4 |
| Van Hool C2045 | 2010 | 0 | 6 |
| Van Hool C2045 | 2011 | 0 | 9 |
| Van Hool T2140 | 2006 | 1 | 2 |
| Van Hool T2140 | 2007 | 3 | 2 |
| Van Hool T2140 | 2008 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool T2140 | 2009 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool T2140 | 2010 | 0 | 3 |
| Van Hool T2145 | 2006 | 0 | 6 |
Other visibility recalls in 2010
25 of the 647 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2010 concerned the visibility; VAN HOOL N.V. filed 11 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. |
| 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. |
| 10V550000 3 Nov 2010 | CHRYSLER GROUP LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2010