2003 Collins GRAND BANTAM: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2003-08-22 (August 22, 2003)

ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH FLOOR MOUNTED WHEELCHAIR ANCHORAGE POCKETS THAT ARE USED TO ACCOMMODATE AND SECURE WHEELCHAIRS, DURING MANUFACTURING, THE REINFORCEMENT PLATE FOR THE POCKET MAY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THE WRONG POSITION. THIS WOULD NOT ALLOW THE SCREWS TO BE ATTACHED THROUGH IT.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE ANCHORAGE MAY NOT RETAIN THE WHEELCHAIR. SERIOUS INJURY TO THE WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT OR OTHER VEHICLE OCCUPANTS MAY RESULT.

Remedy: COLLINS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES BY INSERTING A REINFORCEMENT EXTENSION PLATE AND REDRILLING HOLES INTO THIS PLATE FOR THE WHEELCHAIR ANCHORAGE SCREWS TO PASS THROUGH. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS BEGAN SEPTEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT COLLINS AT 1-800-533-1850.

Reported: 2005-05-02 (May 2, 2005)

CERTAIN COLLINS MY 2002-2005 BANTAM, SUPER BANTAM, AND GRAND BANTAM MODEL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 22, 2002, AND APRIL 27, 2005. THESE BUSES WERE EQUIPPED WITH A BENCH-STYLE SINGLE PASSENGER SEATS HAVING A LOWER CUSHION SURFACE OF 24 INCHES IN WIDTH. THESE SEATS SHOULD HAVE A SEATING SURFACE OF ONLY 22 INCHES FOR A SIGNAL DESIGNATED SEATING POSITION. THESE SEATS DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 222, SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION.

Consequence: THESE SEATS SHOULD HAVE A SEATING SURFACE OF ONLY 22 INCHES WIDE TO HAVE A SINGLE DESIGNATED SEATING POSITION. BECAUSE THE 24 INCH CUSHION IS WIDER THAN 22 INCHES, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR TWO PASSENGERS TO BE SEATED IN THIS SEAT. A SECOND PASSENGER WOULD NOT HAVE AN AVAILABLE SEAT BELT FOR RESTRAINT AND MAY BE INJURED IN A CRASH.

Remedy: COLLINS WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE 24 INCH SEAT CUSHION WITH A 22 INCH SEAT CUSHION FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN APRIL 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT COLLINS CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-533-1850.

Reported: 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)

CERTAIN 2002-2005 MY COLLINS BANTAM, SUPER BANTAM, AND GRAND BANTAM SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SPECIALTY MFG "5" SERIES STOP ARMS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 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.

Consequence: SHOULD THE STOP ARM NOT PERFORM PROPERLY, A CHILD OR PEDESTRIAN MAY BE ENDANGERED BY PASSING VEHICLES SHOULD THE MOTORIST NOT STOP AT THE CORRECT LOCATION.

Remedy: COLLINS BUS WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE WITH A SWITCH PACK THAT IS NOT SENSITIVE TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER AND WILL INSPECT TO ENSURE THE MICROSWITCH HEATER WIRING IS PROPERLY CONNECTED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 12, 2005. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT COLLINS BUS CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-533-1850 OR SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING AT 1-800-951-7867.

Reported: 2005-08-01 (August 1, 2005)

CERTAIN 2002-2005 MY COLLINS BANTAM, SUPER BANTAM, AND GRAND BANTAM SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH "5" SERIES STOP ARMS. THESE SCHOOL BUSES WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN STATES OTHER THAN THE FOLLOWING: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 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.

Consequence: SHOULD THE STOP ARM NOT PERFORM PROPERLY, A CHILD OR PEDESTRIAN MAY BE ENDANGERED BY PASSING VEHICLES SHOULD THE MOTORIST NOT STOP AT THE CORRECT LOCATION.

Remedy: COLLINS WILL NOTIFY ALL ITS CUSTOMERS OF THIS CAMPAIGN. FOR THOSE BUSES OPERATED IN OR NEAR ANY OF THE STATES LISTED ABOVE, COLLINS IS ENCOURAGING THE BUS OWNERS TO OBTAIN THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH. FOR THOSE BUSES OPERATED IN THE WARMER STATES, COLLINS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCH UPON OWNER REQUEST. FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO REQUEST THE REMEDY, COLLINS WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WITH A SWITCH PACK THAT IS NOT SENSITIVE TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER AND WILL INSPECT TO ENSURE THE MICROSWITCH HEATER WIRING IS PROPERLY CONNECTED. THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BEGAN OCTOBER 12, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT COLLINS AT 800-448-7825 OR SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING AT 1-800-951-7867.

Reported: 2011-05-23 (May 23, 2011)

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."

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

Remedy: COLLINS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL FOAM PADDING UNDER THE UPHOLSTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT COLLINS BUS AT 1-800-533-1850.