1999 Amtran Fe recalls

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES WERE BUILT WITH A POOR QUALITY HEATER/DEFROSTER BLOWER SWITCH. IN SOME CASES THIS HAS CAUSED THE MELTING OF THE HEATER HARNESS CONNECTOR AT THE SWITCH TERMINALS OR THE HIGH-SPEED WIRE INSULATION AT THE CONNECTOR. ALSO, SOME OF THE UNITS HAD IMPROPER CIRCUIT PROTECTION SIZE INSTALLED IN THE HEATER DEFROSTER CIRCUIT.

IF AN OPERATOR DETECTS SMOKE OR THE SMELL OF MELTING WIRE INSULATION FROM THE BLOWER CONTROL PANEL, THE OPERATION OF THE HEATER/DEFROSTER AT HIGH SPEED SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED UNTIL THE REPAIR IS MADE.

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH AND SWITCH HARNESS WITH A NEW SWITCH, SWITCH HARNESS, RELAY AND RELAY HARNESS. FOR THE RE UNITS BUILT PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1999, THE KIT WILL ALSO INCLUDE A 20-AMPERE MANUAL CIRCUIT BREAKER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AMTRAN AT 800-843-5615.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. SOME HEATER/DEFROSTER UNITS WERE BUILT WITH THE BLOWER MOTOR WIRED IMPROPERLY. WHEN WIRED IMPROPERLY THE BLOWER MOTOR RUNS BACKWARD AND AIRFLOW FOR HEATING AND DEFROSTING IS VERY LIMITED. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 103, "WINDSHIELD DEFROSTING AND DEFOGGING SYSTEMS."

DEFROSTING NEEDS MAY NOT BE ACHIEVED AND COULD RESTRICT DRIVER VISIBILITY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO INSPECT AND REPAIR THE DEFECT BY SWITCHING THE CONNECTION OF TWO WIRES.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ANCHOR SEATS. SOME OF THE SEATS WERE BUILT WITH A SEAT MOUNTING BOLT THAT FAILED DURING TESTING. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.

OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO INSPECT TO THE DEFECT AND REPAIR THE DEFECT BY REPLACING ONE BOLT PER SEAT.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES. SOME CERTIFICATION LABELS DISPLAYED THE INCORRECT TIRE PRESSURE FOR THE TIRE SPECIFIED TO MEET THE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING FOR THE FRONT AND/OR REAR AXLES. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 120, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS," AND 49 CFR PART 567, "CERTIFICATION."

UNDER OR OVER-INFLATED TIRES CAN CAUSE OR CONTRIBUTE TO PREMATURE TIRE FAILURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A SUDDEN BLOWOUT OR OTHER FAILURE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

NEW CERTIFICATION LABELS ARE BEING PROVIDED TO OWNERS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MARCH 16, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE CERTIFICATION LABEL WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AMTRAN AT 1-800-993-7686.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN BUSES WERE BUILT WITH A WIRING DIAGRAM DECAL THAT SHOWS THE CIRCUIT PROTECTION SIZE OF 30 AMPERES INSTEAD OF 20 AMPERES FOR THE HEATER SUPPLY CIRCUITS.

ELECTRICAL COMPONENT FAILURE WITHOUT THE CORRECT PROTECTION IN SOME CASES CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING OF THE COMPONENT AND/OR FIRE.

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A STRIP AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS THAT SHOULD BE PLACED OVER THE INCORRECT INFORMATION ON THE CURRENT DECAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 21, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE STRIP AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AMTRAN AT 1-800-993-7686.

CERTAIN FE SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES BUILT WITH CE WHITE DRIVER SEATS WITH A PEDESTAL STYLE MOUNT AND MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 10, 1992 THROUGH FEBRUARY 24, 2004. THESE PEDESTALS CAN DEVELOP CRACKS RENDERING THE SEAT UNSTABLE.

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT COULD SEPARATE FROM THE BASE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

IC WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE SEAT BY REPLACING THE UPPER PORTION OF THE ASSEMBLY WITH A MORE ROBUST DESIGN. THE RECALL BEGAN JUNE 3, 2005. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT IC COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-843-5615.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUS. AN AIR BRAKE LINE CONTROLLING THE REAR BRAKES MAY BE TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE AND COULD RUPTURE AT ANY TIME WITHOUT WARNING.

EXHAUST PIPE HEAT CAN MELT OR CAUSE PREMATURE FAILURE OF THIS AIR LINE IF THE AIR LINE IS ROUTED TOO CLOSE TO THE EXHAUST PIPE.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW ELBOW FITTING AND REROUTE THE AIR LINE. THE AIR LINE WILL ALSO BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF FOUND TO BE DAMAGED FROM THE EXHAUST PIPE.

CE MODEL SCHOOL BUSES WHICH FAIL TO COMPLY TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH. THE ROOF TOP SHEET MAY BE IMPROPERLY LOCATED, REDUCING THE MATERIAL EDGE DISTANCE AT THE RIVET LINE.

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE JOINT STRENGHT COULD FAIL POSSIBILY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

IC WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL PROVIDE INSPECTION AND REPAIR INSTRUCTION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2005. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT IC CUSTOMER SERVICE AT (WE DO NOT YET HAVE A TELEPHONE NUMBER FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES BUILT WITH BENDIX AIR ABS WITH AN EC-17 1030R ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU). THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSED BY 1) CHAFED ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRES ON ROTATING PARTS OR 2) A DAMAGED COMPONENT AT THE WHEEL END THAT GENERATES A CERTAIN TYPE OF ERRATIC SENSOR SIGNAL.

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ABS ECU TO EXHAUST THE AIR AT THE AIR BRAKE MODULATORS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE WHEELS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUS. SOME FORWARD HANDRAILS WITH OUTWARD OPENING ENTRANCE DOORS WERE BUILT WITH THE HAND RAIL MOUNTING TOO CLOSE TO THE ENGINE COVER. 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.

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.

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO IDENTIFY THE DEFECT AND REPAIR PROCEDURES. IF THE OWNER PREFERS, AN AMTRAN DEALER CAN PERFORM THE REMEDY FOR THEM.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH FLIP SEATS AT THE EMERGENCY EXITS. THE SEAT CUSHION HINGE ON THE COMBINATION FLIP SEAT IS LOCATED IN SUCH A MANNER THAT IT IS WITHIN EASY REACH OF THE PASSENGER SITTING IN THE SEAT LOCATED BEHIND THE COMBO FLIP SEAT.

THE HINGES ON THE COMBO FLIP SEAT CAN CAUSE A PINCHING CONDITION, RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY.

OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED AND SENT KITS TO REMEDY THESE SEATS.

TRANSIT AND SCHOOL BUSES. SOME REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES WERE BUILT USING INCORRECT MOUNTING HARDWARE. IMPROPER TORQUE OF THE FASTENER OR FASTENERS THAT RETAIN THE BRAKES TO THE REAR AXLE COULD ALLOW BRAKE GROUPS TO SEPARATION FROM THE REAR AXLE.

SEPARATION OF THE REAR AXLE COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

DEALERS/OWNERS WILL INSPECT THE MOUNTING HARDWARE AND REPLACE THE LOCK NUTS IF NECESSARY.

CERTAIN FE MODEL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 14, 1991, AND MARCH 4, 2003. A GAP BETWEEN THE MODESTY PANEL AND THE WHEEL WELL LOCATED BEHIND THE DRIVER'S SEAT CAN BE CREATED IF THE PANEL IS BENT OUT OF POSITION. UNDER THE PANEL, THE EDGES ARE SHARP AND JAGGED.

SHOULD SOMEONE REACH UNDER THE PANEL, THEY COULD CUT THIER HANDS, FINGERS, OR TOES ON THE JAGGED EDGES.

IC WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE PANEL FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN JANUARY 20, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT IC CORPORATION COMPLIANCE DEPARTMENT TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-843-5615. CUSTOMERS CAN LOCATE THE NEAREST DEALER BY CALLING 1-800-993-7686.