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.
Contacts
Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized Amtran dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 02V200000.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.