- The problem
- Certain 1998, 2000-2005 my ce, fe, and re school buses built with one or more ce white 30-inch child restraint seats and manufactured between march 25, 1998 and august 24, 2004. The seat cushion retention may not retain the seat in all circumstances.
- The risk
- In the event of a sudden stop, the seat cushion may tip forward and may become unattached causing the passenger to slide off the seat and/or be trapped by the seat cushion. This action could possibly result in personal injury or death.
- The fix
- Ic corp will notify its customers and will repair the cushion by adding a clip to the cushion tying it to the seat frame. The recall began on october 5, 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 compliance department at 1-800-843-5615.
Vehicle safety record
2003 Amtran FE Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2003 Amtran FE have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 11 recalls, the latest in October 2004 for the seats.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical FE year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 11
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2003 Amtran FE recalls 11
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the seat could separate from the base, possibly resulting in personal injury or death.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- This could reduce the function of the track or the strength of the lift mounting bolts resulting in personal injury to the occupants.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Should someone reach under the panel, they could cut thier hands, fingers, or toes on the jagged edges.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the joint strenght could fail possibily resulting in injuries to the vehicle occupants.
- The fix
- 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.)
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- This hose failure will result in the loss of rear brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- Certain school buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, "Bus emergency exits and window retention and release." These buses do not comply with the emergency exit requirements.
- The risk
- During an emergency situation, this condition could prevent passengers from exiting the bus, which could cause personal injury or death.
- The fix
- Dealers will add one roof exit in the center of the passenger compartment. All owners have been notified and arrangements made to remedy their buses.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- If the lens fractures, it can cause injuries to persons directly in front of it.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- On certain buses equipped with hydraulic brakes, the master cylinder was damaged during the fill and bleed procedure.
- The risk
- This damage can cause brake drag, brake lock-up or extended stopping distance, increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the master cylinder. Owner notification began january 27, 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 1-800-993-7686.
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No complaints about the 2003 Amtran FE yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Amtran FE: every year compared
All FE yearsQuestions about the 2003 Amtran FE
Does the 2003 Amtran FE have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 11 recalls for the 2003 Amtran FE: seats (October 2004); seats (September 2004); equipment adaptive / mobility (September 2004); equipment adaptive / mobility (August 2004) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2003 Amtran FE had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2003 Amtran FE a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 29 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Amtran FE year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
What should I do if my 2003 Amtran FE has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data