The defect
CERTAIN CLOTHING ARTICLES SUCH AS DRAW STRINGS CAN BECOME LODGED IN THE FORWARD HANDRAILS AT THE BUS DOORS WHEN A PERSON IS EXITING THE BUS.
The risk
IF THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF THE SITUATION, THE ENTRANCE DOOR MAY BE CLOSED, CAPTURING THE ITEM IN THE DOOR. DEATH OR INJURY CAN OCCUR TO THE PERSON EXITING THE BUS.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THIS HANDRAIL. PROVISIONS WILL BE MADE FOR BUSES OPERATING IN STATES THAT MANDATE A FORWARD MOUNTED HANDRAIL TO OFFER THE OWNERS A FREE REPAIR KIT CONTAINING A RUBBER SPACER.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Amtran Volunteer | 1995, 1996, 1997 |
| Ward Volunteer | 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amtran Volunteer | 1995 | 0 | 5 |
| Amtran Volunteer | 1996 | 0 | 4 |
| Amtran Volunteer | 1997 | 0 | 4 |
| Ward Volunteer | 1991 | 0 | 5 |
| Ward Volunteer | 1992 | 0 | 5 |
| Ward Volunteer | 1993 | 0 | 6 |
| Ward Volunteer | 1994 | 0 | 5 |
| Ward Volunteer | 1995 | 0 | 5 |
| Ward Volunteer | 1996 | 0 | 5 |
| Ward Volunteer | 1997 | 0 | 3 |
Other structure recalls in 1997
21 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the structure; AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. filed 44 campaigns in all.
| 97V232000 18 Dec 1997 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 97V235001 18 Dec 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V229000 11 Dec 1997 | EAST MANUFACTURING CORP. |
| 97V180000 20 Oct 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V164000 22 Sept 1997 | TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES |
| 97V137000 19 Aug 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V130000 18 Aug 1997 | COLLINS BUS CORPORATION |
| 97V117000 25 Jul 1997 | THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997