COLLINS GRAND BANTAM

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Collins Bus Corporation (Collins) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Collins and Mid Bus Super Bantam, Grand Bantam, Super Guide, Grand Guide, DE416WR, DH416WR, and DE516WR school buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to June 16, 2014, and equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation after January 1, 2006. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Collins Bus Corporation (Collins) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 Bantam, Super Bantam, Grand Bantam, Mid Bus Guide, Super Guide, and Grand Guide school buses manufactured September 2009 through April 2010, and equipped with A&M Systems-brand electric door actuators. Voltage spikes may damage electrical components and electrical circuits, causing the circuit board to develop high resistance.

Risk: High resistance may cause the board to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

COLLINS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2010 GRAND BANTAM, SUPER BANTAM, MID BUS GRAND GUIDE, AND MID BUS SUPER GUIDE SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 21, 2008, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH BRAUN CENTURY-2 WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. OVER TIME, AND WITH FREQUENT USE, THE ROLL STOP LATCHES ON THE OUTER BARRIER MAY BECOME BENT OR MISALIGNED.

Risk: A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT MAY DEFEAT OR RIDE OVER THE INSUFFICIENTLY LATCHED ROLL STOP. IF THIS OCCURS WHEN THE LIFT PLATFORM IS IN AN ELEVATED POSITION, THE WHEELCHAIR’S OCCUPANT COULD FALL AND SUSTAIN INJURY.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

COLLINS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2008 BANTAM, GRAND BANTAM, AND SUPER BANTAM SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 23, 2006, THROUGH FEBRUARY 1, 2008, EQUIPPED WITH CARRIER GENV EM-1 EVAPORATOR UNITS. DUE TO TIME, TEMPERATURE, AND/OR VIBRATION, THE FUSE MAY LOOSEN IN THE FUSE HOLDER RESULTING IN HIGH RESISTANCE AND ARCING.

Risk: IF SUFFICIENT ARCING OCCURS, THE FUSE HOLDER MAY MELT, AND A VEHICLE FIRE MAY OCCUR.

SEATS

COLLINS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2011 BANTAM, GRAND BANTAM, AND SUPER BANTAM SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2002 THROUGH MAY 20, 2011, FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE LEG PROTECTION ZONE IMPACT REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 222 "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION."

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED AND MAY SUSTAIN INJURIES.

OTHER:SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM ASSEMBLY

COLLINS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 SUPER BANTAM AND GRAND BANTAM AND MID BUS SUPER GUIDE AND GRAND GUIDE SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON FORD AND CHEVROLET PLATFORMS FROM MARCH 31, 2008 THROUGH JULY 31, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING, INC. (SMI) 000290 LED LIGHT KITS. A CHANGE TO THE WIRE USED IN THE LED LIGHT KITS MAY REDUCE THE EFFECTIVE LIFE OF THE LIGHTS USED ON THE STOP ARMS. THE LIGHTS MAY STOP FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING.

Risk: SHOULD THE LED LIGHTS STOP FUNCTIONING, VISIBILITY OF A STOPPED BUS WOULD BE DECREASED, INCREASING THE RISK THAT A CHILD OR OTHER PEDESTRIAN WITHIN VICINITY OF THE STOPPED BUS COULD BE STRUCK BY A PASSING VEHICLE.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS

COLLINS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 BANTAM, SUPER BANTAM, AND GRAND BANTAM SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 1 AND OCTOBER 1, 2009, BUILT ON FORD CUTAWAY CHASSIS. THE BRAKE-TURN SEPARATOR MODULE WHICH IS USED TO CONTROL THE BRAKE LIGHTS AND TURN SIGNALS LIGHTS IN THE REAR MAY NOT ALWAYS DISTINGUISH CORRECTLY BETWEEN A BRAKE SIGNAL INPUT AND A TURN SIGNAL INPUT FROM THE FORD CHASSIS OEM WIRING. FOR TYPICAL BRAKE AND TURN SIGNAL OPERATION, THE STOP/TAIL/TURN LIGHTS AT THE REAR OF THE BUS WILL FUNCTION PROPERLY. HOWEVER, IF THE BRAKES ARE PUMPED/APPLIED IN A FREQUENCY MATCHING THAT OF THE BLINKING TURN SIGNAL WHILE THE TURN INDICATOR IS ON, THERE IS THE POTENTIAL THAT THE BRAKE SIGNAL THROUGH THE MODULE MAY CANCEL OUT THE TURN SIGNAL TEMPORARILY OR CAUSE IT TO FLASH INTERMITTENTLY.

Risk: THIS CAN CAUSE CONFUSION TO VEHICLES BEHIND THE BUS AS TO WHETHER THE BUS IS TURNING OR STOPPING INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

SEATS

COLLINS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 GRAND BANTAM AND SUPER BANTAM SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 5, 2009 THROUGH JANUARY 4, 2010 AND BUILT WITH CERTAIN LAP SHOULDER BELT SEATS MANUFACTURED BY IMMI. THE SEAT CUSHION LOCKING MECHANISMS WERE MISALIGNED DURING VEHICLE ASSEMBLY. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 222, "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION."

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT CUSHION COULD DETACH FROM THE SEAT, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE BUS OCCUPANTS.