GIRARDIN MB IV

EQUIPMENT

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.

Risk: THIS WOULD CAUSE THE RESISTOR TEMPERATURE TO RISE TO A POINT WHERE IT WILL MELT AND POSSIBLY IGNITE THE PLASTIC BLOWER HOUSING TO WHICH IT IS MOUNTED. THE OVERHEATING CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

EQUIPMENT

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.

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE EMERGENCY EXIT COULD NOT SUFFICIENTLY RESTRAIN THE OCCUPANT(S) OR BECOME INOPERABLE. THE OCCUPANT(S) COULD BE THROWN FROM THE VEHICLE OR NOT BE CAPABLE OF OPENING THE EMERGENCY EXITS WHICH COULD CAUSE INJURY OR DEATH OF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT(S).