GIRARDIN Recalls

Apr 12, 2012 – MICRO BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 MICRO BIRD G5 SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BRAUN CENTURY-2 AND VISTA-2 WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. OVER TIME AND WITH FREQUENT USE, THE ROLL STOP LATCHES ON THE OUTER BARRIER MAY BECOME BENT OR MISALIGNED.

Apr 05, 2012 – MICRO BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 MICRO BIRD G5 TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BRAUN CENTURY-2 AND VISTA-2 WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. OVER TIME AND WITH FREQUENT USE, THE ROLL STOP LATCHES ON THE OUTER BARRIER MAY BECOME BENT OR MISALIGNED.

Jun 06, 2011 – MICRO BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 GIRARDIN G5 AND 2009 AND 2010 AND 2011 MICRO BIRD G5 SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON FORD CUTAWAY CHASSIS FROM FEBRUARY 2006 THROUGH MAY 30, 2011. THE OEM CUTAWAY WIRING HARNESS PASSES JUST REARWARD OF THE DRIVER SEAT BETWEEN THE B PILLAR AND THE RAISED FLOOR. THE RAISED FLOOR JUST REARWARD OF THE DRIVER SEAT IS TRAPPING THE WIRE HARNESS CAUSING THE WIRES TO RUB AGAINST THE METAL FLOOR MOLDING, DAMAGING THE WIRE INSULATION.

Jun 06, 2011 – MICRO BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 GIRARDIN G5 AND 2009 AND 2010 AND 2011 MICRO BIRD G5 NON SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON FORD CUTAWAY CHASSIS FROM FEBRUARY 2006 THROUGH MAY 30, 2011. THE OEM CUTAWAY WIRING HARNESS PASSES JUST REARWARD OF THE DRIVER SEAT BETWEEN THE B PILLAR AND THE RAISED FLOOR. THE RAISED FLOOR JUST REARWARD OF THE DRIVER SEAT IS TRAPPING THE WIRE HARNESS CAUSING THE WIRES TO RUB AGAINST THE METAL FLOOR MOLDING, DAMAGING THE WIRE INSULATION.

Apr 11, 2011 – CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 GIRARDIN G5 AND MBII AND MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 MICRO BIRD G5 AND MB II SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 2006 THROUGH APRIL 5, 2011, FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 131, "SCHOOL BUS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY DEVICES." THE 4-WAY WARNING LIGHTS DO NOT HAVE AN ALARM TO ALERT THE DRIVER THAT THE STOP ARM DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE 4 RED LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED.

Dec 27, 2010 – CORP. MICRO BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2002 GIRARDIN MB IV TRANSIT BUSES BUILT ON FORD AND GM CUTAWAY CHASSIS FROM AUGUST 2, 1999, THROUGH MAY 8, 2002, AND EQUIPPED WITH A TRANS/AIR TA73 EVAPORATOR. THE EVAPORATOR UTILIZES A POWER RESISTOR TO REGULATE BLOWER SPEED. SHOULD A SHORT OCCUR IN THE "LOW OR MEDIUM SPEED" CIRCUIT WHILE THE BLOWER IS IN HIGH SPEED, THE SHORT WILL CAUSE THE SUPPLY VOLTAGE TO FEEDBACK THROUGH THE RESISTOR TO GROUND, NOT DRAWING ENOUGH CURRENT TO TRIP THE FUSE.

Dec 21, 2010 – CORP. MICRO BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1999 THROUGH 2001 GIRARDIN MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON FORD AND GM CUTAWAY CHASSIS FROM AUGUST 2, 1999, THROUGH MAY 31, 2001, AND EQUIPPED WITH A TRANS/AIR TA73 EVAPORATOR. THE EVAPORATOR UTILIZES A POWER RESISTOR TO REGULATE BLOWER SPEED. SHOULD A SHORT OCCUR IN THE "LOW OR MEDIUM SPEED" CIRCUIT WHILE THE BLOWER IS IN HIGH SPEED, THE SHORT WILL CAUSE THE SUPPLY VOLTAGE TO FEEDBACK THROUGH THE RESISTOR TO GROUND, NOT DRAWING ENOUGH CURRENT TO TRIP THE FUSE.

Dec 15, 2010 – CORP. MICRO BIRD IS RECALLING MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 GIRARDIN G5 SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON GM AND FORD CUTAWAY CHASSIS FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2008 THROUGH DECEMBER 16, 2008. THE SHEET METAL BELOW THE WINDOW INSIDE THE BUS ON THE LEFT-HAND SIDE FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE JOINT STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH." THERE IS NO ADHESIVE ON THE JOINT BETWEEN THE TWO EMBOSSED ALUMINUM SHEETS.

Aug 13, 2010 – CERTAIN GIRARDIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 AND MICRO BIRD BY GIRARDIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2010 G5 AND 2003 THROUGH 2006 GIRARDIN MB IV TRANSIT BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXISTS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." THE VEHICLES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THERMAL T-SLIDER OR PANORAMIC TYPE PUSH-OUT WINDOWS WITH 2 RELEASE MECHANISMS (ONE ON EACH SIDE). THE WINDOW HANDLE BASE SPACER PLATE CAN TEAR DUE TO THE ROTATION OF THE EXTERIOR WINDOW FRAME.

Mar 25, 2010 – CORP. MICRO BIRD HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2010 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 2007 AND MARCH 2010 FITTED WITH RICON PUBLIC USE S AND K SERIES WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE RESTRAINT BELT ON THESE LIFTS WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LIFT FROM MOVING, UNLESS THE TONGUE OF THE BELT IS FULLY ENGAGED AND LATCHED IN THE BUCKLE. RICON HAS DISCOVERED, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE OPERATOR TO INSERT THE BELT TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE WITHOUT FULLY ENGAGING THE LATCHING MECHANISM. IN THIS CASE, THE RESTRAINT BELT WOULD APPEAR TO BE LATCHED, AND THE OPERATOR COULD RUN THE LIFT. IF THE RESTRAINT BELT TONGUE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED INTO THE RESTRAINT BELT BUCKLE, AND LATCHED, THE LIFT MAY OPERATE WITH AN OCCUPANT ON THE PLATFORM.