CERTAIN 2005-2007 CE AND MY 2007 BE SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 10

Dec 20, 2005 — Recall Campaign #05V561000

CERTAIN 2005-2007 CE AND MY 2007 BE SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 10, 2004, AND DECEMBER 15, 2005. PASSENGER COAT STRINGS OR CARRY ON ITEMS CAN GET CAUGHT BETWEEN THE DOOR CONTROL BRACKET AND THE DOOR CONTROL ARM AS THE PASSENGER EXITS THE BUS.

The recall was influenced by the manufacturer with about 1,918 units affected.

See recall notice

NHTSA Safety Recall Notice

05V561000

Manufacturer:	IC CORPORATION
Recall date:	December 20, 2005
NHTSA Campaign #:	05V561000
Units affected:	1,918

Description:: CERTAIN 2005-2007 CE AND MY 2007 BE SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 10, 2004, AND DECEMBER 15, 2005. PASSENGER COAT STRINGS OR CARRY ON ITEMS CAN GET CAUGHT BETWEEN THE DOOR CONTROL BRACKET AND THE DOOR CONTROL ARM AS THE PASSENGER EXITS THE BUS.
Consequeces:: IF THE DRIVER IS UNAWARE OF THE SITUATION, THE ENTRANCE DOOR MAY BE CLOSED, CAPTURING THE ITEM IN THE DOOR. DEATH OR INJURY COULD OCCUR TO THE PERSON EXITING THE BUS.
Corrective action:: IC WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND REPAIR ALL THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN MARCH 2, 2006. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT INTERNATIONAL AT 800-448-7825.
Notes:: CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236; (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Affects the following:

2006 IC CE Complaints
A 2006 IC TYPE C SCHOOL BUS BELONGING TO THE SAINT PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS CAUGHT FIRE AND WAS DESTROYED THIS AFTERNOON. THE BUS WAS RETURNING TO THE GARAGE AFTER IT'S LAST ROUTE WHEN IT SUFFERED WHAT APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN A RIGHT FRONT HEATER FAN FIRE. THE DRIVER SAW SMOKE COMING FROM THE HEATER FAN AND PULLED OVER AT A SAFE LOCATION. SHE REPORTED THAT UPON STOPPING HEAVY SMOKE POURED FROM THE HEATER VENT. SHE EXITED THE BUS AND REPORTED THAT THE BUS WAS FULLY ENGULFED WITHIN TWO TO THREE MINUTES OF STOPPING THE VEHICLE. SHE REPORTED FLAMES IN THE FRONT OF THE BUS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE OF THE WINDSHIELD. THE ENTIRE INTERIOR IS GUTTED WITH ALL SEATS BURNED, WINDOWS MELTED, AND ESCAPE HATCHES MELTED. THIS WAS A LARGE LIFT BUS CAPABLE OF TRANSPORTING 4 OR MORE WHEELCHAIRS, PLUS AMBULATORY STUDENTS. HAD THERE BEEN STUDENTS IN WHEELCHAIRS ON THE BUS WE HAVE DOUBTS SHE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EVACUATE ALL STUDENTS IN THE TIME THE FIRE TOOK TO SPREAD. *NM;
2007 IC BUS CE Complaints
2007 INTERNATIONAL CE SCHOOL BUS #19: MERITOR/WABCO BRAKE SYSTEMS. THE DRIVER OF THIS BUS WAS APPROACHING A STOP SIGN. ACCORDING TO THE DRIVER'S ESTIMATES, HE WAS GOING 15 MPH WHEN THE BRAKES SUDDENLY LOCKED UP TIGHT. THE DRIVER THEN CALLED IN STATING THE BRAKES WERE LOCKED UP AND THAT HE WAS UNABLE TO RELEASE THE PARKING BRAKE. THE FIRST THING WE DID WAS TRANSFER THOSE KIDS ONTO ANOTHER BUS THAT HAPPENED TO BE DRIVING BY. ASSUMING THIS WAS THE SAME PROBLEM THE OTHER CE BUSSES HAVE HAD WITH THE PARKING BRAKES, WE WENT OUT AND CUT THE SHORT CABLE TO GET THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE BUSY INTERSECTION. I CUT THE CABLE WHILE MY ASSISTANT MECHANIC JUMPED IN THE BUS TO PULL IT AWAY. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PULL AWAY, HE WAS ABOUT HALFWAY INTO THE INTERSECTION WHEN THE BRAKES AGAIN LOCKED UP WITHOUT HIM TOUCHING THE BRAKE PEDAL. THE SHORT CABLE WAS CUT, SO THIS MEANT THE SERVICE BRAKE SYSTEM WAS CAUSING THIS TO HAPPEN. WE SLOWLY DROVE THE BUS ABOUT 500 FEET TO GET IT OFF THE ROAD AND PARKED IT. IN THAT 500 OR SO FEET, THE BRAKES LOCKED UP 5-6 MORE TIMES. I CALLED UP A TOW TRUCK COMPANY AND HAD THEM HAUL IT TO THE DEALERSHIP. THEY WERE UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. TO MAKE A VERY LONG STORY SHORT, MERITOR SAID THE LACK OF A TROUBLE CODE IN THE SERVICE BRAKE OR PARK BRAKE SYSTEM INDICATES THAT THE PROBLEM WAS PROBABLY (THEY'RE NOT SURE) DUE TO A CORRODED TONE RING ON A REAR ROTOR. DUE TO THE CORROSION, THE COMPUTER DID NOT PICK UP A WHEEL SPEED READING. THIS ACTIVATED THE TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM WHICH APPLIED BRAKE PRESSURE TO THE OPPOSITE WHEEL (WHICH IS WHAT LOCKED UP THE BRAKES) IN AN ATTEMPT TO APPLY TORQUE TO THE WHEEL THAT WASN'T GETTING A WHEEL SPEED READING. THEIR SUGGESTION WAS TO REPLACE THE ROTORS (AT MY COST) TO THE PERFORMANCE FRICTION BRAND WITH THE ANTI-CORROSION TONE RING. WE HAVE DEALT WITH CORRODED ROTORS BEFORE. IT'S A VERY COMMON PROBLEM. THE QUESTION IS, WHAT HAPPENS TO THE NEXT BUS WHEN THE BRAKES APPLY UNEXPECTEDLY WITH VEHICLES BEHIND IT? *TR;