- 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.
Vehicle safety record
2003 Amtran RE Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2003 Amtran RE have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 8 recalls, the latest in September 2004 for the equipment adaptive / mobility.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical RE year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2003 Amtran RE recalls 8
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 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 school buses, the instructions on how to operate the emergency exit did not meet the minimal letter height of 1-centermeter. These buses fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no 217, bus emergency exits and window retention and release.
- The risk
- The label may not be visible to the operator, possibly resulting in injury if the occupants cannot exit the bus quickly.
- The fix
- Ic will mail new labels with installation instructions. Owner notification began june 25, 2004. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact ic at 501-505-2190.
- 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 commercial buses equipped with t-slide oval windows fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, "Bus emergency exits and window retention and release." Incorrect side emergency exit windows were installed.
- The risk
- Passengers could be prevented from exiting the bus, which could result in personal injury or death.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the windows. Owner notification began december 18, 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 amtran at 1-800-843-5615.
- 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
- 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.
- The problem
- Certain school buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) no. 221, "School bus body joint strength." The entrance door stepwell vertical joints were built with an inadequate number of fasteners.
- The risk
- The effectiveness of this joint during a crash could be reduced allowing separation of the joints which could result in an opening or protrusion of metal edges in the stepwell area, increasing the risk of injury.
- The fix
- Owners will be provided with repair instructions and parts free of charge. Additional fasteners will be added to the vertical joints of the stepwell. Owner notification is expected to begin august 22, 2002. Owners who do not receive the free repair instructions and parts within a reasonable time should contact ic at 1-800-843-5615.
What owners say
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
No complaints about the 2003 Amtran RE yet
Amtran RE: every year compared
All RE yearsQuestions about the 2003 Amtran RE
Does the 2003 Amtran RE have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 2003 Amtran RE: equipment adaptive / mobility (September 2004); equipment adaptive / mobility (August 2004); visibility (May 2004); equipment (February 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 RE had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2003 Amtran RE a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 43 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Amtran RE 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.
Which Amtran RE years have the most complaints?
1996 (2), 2001 (1). See every Amtran RE year compared.
What should I do if my 2003 Amtran RE 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