The defect
SYSTEM: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; BATTERY. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MEDIUM DUTY SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKES, TILT HOODS, 5.9L, 6.6L OR 7.6L DIESEL ENGINES OR 6.1L OR 7.0L GASOLINE ENGINES AND ORIGINALLY SOLD OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN CONNECTICUT, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, MAINE, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW YORK, OHIO, PENNSYLVANIA ,RHODE ISLAND, VERMONT, AND WISCONSIN. THE BATTERY POWER JUNCTION BLOCK MOUNTED ON THE RIGHT FENDER APRON, WHICH SERVES AS AN ELECTRICAL CONNECTION POINT FOR SEVERAL ENGINE COMPARTMENT SYSTEMS, IS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ROAD SPLASH. THE TERMINALS AT THE JUNCTION BLOCK CAN EXPERIENCE CORROSION AND CAN FRACTURE, CAUSING LOSS OF ELECTRICAL POWER AND ENGINE SHUTDOWN.
The risk
ENGINE SHUTDOWN, LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST, OR LOSS OF HYDRAULIC BRAKE BOOST CAN OCCUR WHICH MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE JUNCTION BOX, MAIN POWER TERMINAL THE STARTER OR STARTER RELAY AND TERMINALS AT THE EXISTING JUNCTION BLOCK. THE WIRING OF THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE CIRCUIT WILL ALSO BE MODIFIED BY BYPASSING THE JUNCTION BLOCK. THE NEW TERMINALS WILL BE MADE FROM AN ALLOY MATERIAL MORE RESISTANT TO SALT CORROSION.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Ford B600 | 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 |
| Ford B700 | 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ford B600 | 1987 | 1 | 1 |
| Ford B600 | 1988 | 0 | 3 |
| Ford B600 | 1989 | 2 | 2 |
| Ford B600 | 1990 | 0 | 2 |
| Ford B600 | 1991 | 0 | 2 |
| Ford B600 | 1992 | 0 | 3 |
| Ford B600 | 1993 | 0 | 5 |
| Ford B600 | 1994 | 0 | 3 |
| Ford B700 | 1987 | 1 | 1 |
| Ford B700 | 1988 | 0 | 3 |
| Ford B700 | 1989 | 3 | 2 |
| Ford B700 | 1990 | 1 | 2 |
| Ford B700 | 1991 | 1 | 2 |
| Ford B700 | 1992 | 1 | 3 |
| Ford B700 | 1993 | 0 | 5 |
| Ford B700 | 1994 | 0 | 3 |
Other electrical system recalls in 1994
18 of the 244 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1994 concerned the electrical system; FORD MOTOR COMPANY filed 963 campaigns in all.
| 94V246000 29 Dec 1994 | HOLIDAY RAMBLER CORP. |
| 94V247000 20 Dec 1994 | WESTERN STAR TRUCKS, INC. |
| 94V238000 1 Dec 1994 | VOLVO GM HEAVY TRUCK CORP |
| 94V220000 8 Nov 1994 | TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD. |
| 94V223000 4 Nov 1994 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 94V222000 4 Nov 1994 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 94V191000 31 Oct 1994 | SHOW TRUCKS USA, INC. |
| 94V175000 13 Sept 1994 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1994