2003 Amtran Ce recalls

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.)

CERTAIN FLAT FLOOR SCHOOL BUSES WERE BUILT WITH THE INCORRECT HYDRAULIC BRAKE DROP HOSES FROM FRAME TO AXLE. THE HOSES INSTALLED WERE 3 INCHES SHORTER THAN SPECIFIED AND MAY FAIL FROM TENSION CAUSED BY AXLE ARTICULATION.

THIS HOSE FAILURE WILL RESULT IN THE LOSS OF REAR BRAKES, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOSES AND BLEED THE BRAKE SYSTEM. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON OCTOBER 9, 2003. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT IC AT 1-800-843-5615.

CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH FLIP SEATS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." SEATS WITH SEAT BELTS WERE BOLTED TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT THE USE OF REQUIRED REINFORCEMENTS UNDER THE FLOOR.

DURING A CRASH, THIS CONDITION MAY ALLOW THE SEAT TO BECOME LOOSE WHICH COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

DEALERS WILL ADD REINFORCEMENTS TO THE SEAT MOUNTING AT THE FLOOR. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 23, 2003. 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 AT 1-800-843-5615.

ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUS WARNING LAMPS, A STATIC ELECTRICITY DISCHARGE CAN OCCUR DURING NORMAL SERVICES OR HANDLING. THIS DISCHARGE CAN POTENTIALLY INITIATE A CHEMICAL REACTION OF MATERIALS WITHIN THE LAMP WHICH COULD CAUSE THE LENS TO FRACTURE.

IF THE LENS FRACTURES, IT CAN CAUSE INJURIES TO PERSONS DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF IT.

SOUND OFF WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS AND MAKE ARRANGEMENTS TO GO OUT TO THE OPERATING FACILITIES AND REPLACE THE WARNING LAMPS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT SOUND OFF AT 800-338-7337 OR IC AT 501-505-2190.

CERTAIN MY 2001-2005 AMTRAN/IC CORPORATION CE, FE, AND RE SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR TIE-DOWN SECUREMENT ASSEMBLIES P/N 8625-13. THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE LOAD PAWL NOT TO FULLY SEAT IN THE SPROCKET TEETH.

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.

SURE-LOK WILL NOTIFY IC'S CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES ON IC'S BEHALF AT NO COST TO THE CUSTOMER. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 16, 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 SURE-LOK AT 1-908-231-1804.

CERTAIN SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR TIE-DOWN SECUREMENT ASSEMBLIES P/N 8625-13 FOR USE ON CERTAIN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES. THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE LOAD PAWL NOT TO FULLY SEAT IN THE SPROCKET TEETH.

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT AND/OR OTHER PASSENGERS.

SURE-LOK WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 16, 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 SURE-LOK CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 866-787-3565.

ON CERTAIN "SPECIAL NEEDS" SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SUR-LOC "L" WHEELCHAIR TRACKS, THE LIFT MOUNTING BOLTS COULD CORRODE IF MOISTURE OCCURS IN THE TREATED PLYWOOD FLOOR.

THIS COULD REDUCE THE FUNCTION OF THE TRACK OR THE STRENGTH OF THE LIFT MOUNTING BOLTS RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY TO THE OCCUPANTS.

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUR-LOC "L" TRACKS WITH PROTECTED TRACKS AND MOUNTING HARDWARE. ALSO, LIFT FLOOR-MOUNTING BOLTS WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN MARCH 19, 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 AT 1-800-843-5615.