The defect
CORP. MICRO BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2001 GIRARDIN MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON FORD AND GM CUTAWAY CHASSIS FROM AUGUST 2, 1999, THROUGH MAY 31, 2001, AND EQUIPPED WITH A TRANS/AIR TA73 EVAPORATOR. THE EVAPORATOR UTILIZES A POWER RESISTOR TO REGULATE BLOWER SPEED. SHOULD A SHORT OCCUR IN THE "LOW OR MEDIUM SPEED" CIRCUIT WHILE THE BLOWER IS IN HIGH SPEED, THE SHORT WILL CAUSE THE SUPPLY VOLTAGE TO FEEDBACK THROUGH THE RESISTOR TO GROUND, NOT DRAWING ENOUGH CURRENT TO TRIP THE FUSE.
The risk
THIS WOULD CAUSE THE RESISTOR TEMPERATURE TO RISE TO A POINT WHERE IT WILL MELT AND POSSIBLY IGNITE THE PLASTIC BLOWER HOUSING TO WHICH IT IS MOUNTED. THE OVERHEATING CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
The remedy
CORP. MICRO BIRD IN COOPERATION WITH TRANS/AIR WILL INSTALL A THERMAL SHUTDOWN DEVICE IN SERIES WITH THE SPEED RESISTORS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 11, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRANS/AIR WARRANTY AND SERVICE CENTER AT 1-800-673-2446.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Girardin MB II | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Girardin MB IV | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
Components: EQUIPMENT
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Girardin MB II | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Girardin MB II | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Girardin MB II | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Girardin MB IV | 1999 | 0 | 3 |
| Girardin MB IV | 2000 | 0 | 3 |
| Girardin MB IV | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
Other equipment recalls in 2010
162 of the 647 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2010 concerned the equipment; CORP. MICRO BIRD, INC. filed 18 campaigns in all.
| 10V652000 28 Dec 2010 | COACH AND EQUIPMENT MFG CORP. |
| 10V645000 27 Dec 2010 | CORP. MICRO BIRD, INC. |
| 10V642000 21 Dec 2010 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC - DBA SPRINTER |
| 10V653000 20 Dec 2010 | PETERSON INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 10V626000 17 Dec 2010 | CARRIAGE, INC |
| 10V650000 17 Dec 2010 | ENTEGRA COACH |
| 10V646000 17 Dec 2010 | THOR MOTOR COACH |
| 10V649000 17 Dec 2010 | JAYCO, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2010