The problem
My 2002 and 2003 guide school buses manufactured from may 1, 2002, to september 30, 2003. Various seams in the school bus bodies were improperly assembled. Vertical seams in the interior were not bonded as required under federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, "School bus body joint strength."
The risk
In the event of a vehicle crash, the seams of the bus may separate at smaller loads then expected, possibly resulting in serious injury or death.
The fix
Mid bus will notify its customers and add additional fasteners to the roof seams, interior seams, and the moisture barrier skin below the floor to ensure that the seams are as intended and in the event of a crash, do not prematurely separate. Owner notification began january 15, 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 mid bus customer service at 877-358-6055.
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 Mid Bus dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 03V403000.
- 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.