The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CARPENTER FRONT ENGINE, SPRING SUSPENSION SCHOOL BUSES. DUE TO FRAME FLEXING, BOTH THE FRONT SPRING HANGER MOUNTING BOLTS AND THE STEERING BOX MOUNTING BOLTS CAN LOOSEN ALLOWING SUBSEQUENT FRACTURE OR TORQUE LOSS OF THESE BOLTS.
The risk
THIS WOULD ALLOW THE FRONT AXLE TO MOVE AFFECTING DIRECTIONAL CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL ADD THREE STRUCTURAL, WELDED CROSS-MEMBERS TO TIE TOGETHER THE RIGHT AND LEFT FRAME RAILS, ALL LOCATED FORWARD OF THE FRONT AXLE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Spartan SB2142 | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
Components: SUSPENSION
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spartan SB2142 | 1995 | 0 | 1 |
| Spartan SB2142 | 1996 | 0 | 1 |
| Spartan SB2142 | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Spartan SB2142 | 1998 | 0 | 2 |
Other suspension recalls in 1999
36 of the 392 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1999 concerned the suspension; SPARTAN MOTORS, INC. filed 45 campaigns in all.
| 99V332000 23 Nov 1999 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 99V300000 10 Nov 1999 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 99V014003 27 Oct 1999 | COUNTRY COACH INC |
| 99V295000 26 Oct 1999 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 99V014004 29 Sept 1999 | HME, INCORPORATED |
| 99V215000 9 Aug 1999 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 99V214000 9 Aug 1999 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 99V128003 15 Jul 1999 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1999