GIRARDIN MB II Recalls

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 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.

Sep 12, 2008 – GIRARDIN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2005 AND 2006 MB II AND MB IV G5 SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2005 AND DECEMBER 2006, EQUIPPED WITH RICON S OR K SERIES WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES."

Dec 14, 2007 – CERTAIN MY 2004 THROUGH 2008 GIRARDIN MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL MINIBUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 14, 2004, AND NOVEMBER 28, 2007, BUILT ON FORD E350 AND E450 DIESEL CHASSIS. THE AFFECTED BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH OPTION BBX (BATTERY BOX). THE PROTECTION FROM ABRASION ON THE BATTERY CABLES THAT CROSS IN THE BATTERY BOX IS INADEQUATE. IT MAY CREATE A SHORT CIRCUIT IN CASE THE ABRASION BETWEEN THE CABLES IS EXCESSIVE.

Dec 13, 2007 – CERTAIN MY 2005 AND 2006 MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 2005 AND JUNE 2006, ON FORD AND GM CHASSIS WITH 6.6L ENGINES EQUIPPED WITH BRAUN LIFT MODELS NL916, NL917, AND NL919. THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT ACTIVATE AS DESIGNED WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

May 01, 2007 – CERTAIN GIRARDIN SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH AND DECEMBER 2006. THE DEFECT INVOLVES THE INTERLOCK SWITCH SYSTEM IN THE LIFT NOT DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER (EITHER WHEELCHAIR OR STANDEE) ON THE RICON WHEELCHAIR PLATFORM LIFT WHICH DOES NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION OCCURS DURING PASSENGER OPERATIONS IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR THE WHEELCHAIR TO TIP BACKWARDS ONTO THE PLATFORM WHEN THE PLATFORM WAS LOWERED.

Jul 13, 2006 – CERTAIN MY 2006 GIRARDIN MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES BUILT ON FORD AND GM CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 3 AND JUNE 19, 2006. THE 7" DIA. BACK-UP LIGHTS, P/N 32EZZ014, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

Apr 24, 2006 – CERTAIN GIRARDIN MY 2005 AND 2006 MB IV SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES AND 2006 MB II SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 29, 2005, AND MAY 10, 2006, AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON K-SERIES WHEELCHAIR LIFTS, P/N K5505-F1020000A & K2010-F1020000A. THE WELDING PROCESS MAY NOT HAVE ACHIEVED FULL PENETRATION ALONG THE SEAM OF THE VERTICAL ARMS. IMPROPERLY WELDED VERTICAL ARMS WILL NOT ALLOW THE LIFT TO STOW PROPERLY.

Aug 22, 2005 – CERTAIN 2003 THROUGH 2005 GIRARDIN MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 17 AND OCTOBER 29, 2004. THE AMOUNT OF ADHESIVE APPLIED TO THE ROOF SEAMS AND INTERIOR PANELS IS INADEQUATE FOR THE TYPE OF ADHESIVE USED WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH. ALSO, DUE TO THE INADEQUATE JOINT STRENGTH, THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE SEAT TEST REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 210, SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES.

Aug 04, 2005 – CERTAIN GIRARDIN MY 2002 THROUGH 2005 MB II & MB IV SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2002, AND AUGUST 8, 2005, AND EQUIPPED WITH "5" SERIES STOP ARMS MANUFACTURED BY SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING COMPANY. IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE MICROSWITCHES USED INTERNALLY TO POSITION THE SIGN IN THE OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS MAY MALFUNCTION, CAUSING THE SIGN TO OPEN OR CLOSE IN AN IMPROPER POSITION, OR TO NOT OPEN AT ALL.