2005 Mid Bus GUIDE: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2005-05-04 (May 4, 2005)

CERTAIN MID BUS MY 2002-2005 GUIDE SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 2002 AND APRIL 30, 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: MID BUS WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE 24 INCH SEAT CUSHION WITH A 22 INCH SEAT CUSHION FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 24, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MID BUS AT 1-877-3358-6055.

Reported: 2005-10-21 (October 21, 2005)

CERTAIN MID BUS 2002-2005 MODEL YEAR GUIDE DX, GUIDE SW, GUIDE XL, AND SC SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 7, 2002, AND APRIL 30, 2005, 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: MID BUS WILL NOTIFY ALL ITS CUSTOMERS OF THIS CAMPAIGN. FOR THOSE BUSES OPERATED IN OR NEAR ANY OF THE STATES LISTED ABOVE, MID BUS IS ENCOURAGING THE BUS OWNERS TO OBTAIN THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH. FOR THOSE BUSES OPERATED IN THE WARMER STATES, MID BUS WILL REPLACE THE SWICH UPON OWNER REQUEST. FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO REQUEST THE REMEDY, MID BUS 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 RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 30, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MID BUS AT 877-358-6055.

Reported: 2006-09-27 (September 27, 2006)

CERTAIN MY 2001 THROUGH 2006 MID BUS GUIDE SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2002, AND MAY 16, 2006, EQUIPPED WITH COLLINS 3 PASSENGER SEATS, FREEDMAN ACTIVITY SEATS, OR UNISTRUT TRACK SEATING WITH 2 PASSENGER SEATS. THE SEATS MAY NOT HAVE HAD THE CORRECT HARDWARE INSTALLED ON THEM WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 222, SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION.

Consequence: PASSENGERS COULD SUSTAIN SERIOUS INJURIES OR EVEN DEATH IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: MID BUS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE ADDITIONAL HARDWARE ALONG WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 30, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MID BUS AT 1-877-358-6055.

Reported: 2007-05-17 (May 17, 2007)

CERTAIN MID BUS GUIDE AND GUIDE XL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 3, 2003, AND MARCH 30, 2007. THE 39" AND 45" LEFT HAND BARRIERS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE ENERGY ABSORPTION REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 222, SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION.

Consequence: THE PURPOSE OF THIS STANDARD IS TO REDUCE THE NUMBER OF DEATHS AND THE SEVERITY OF INJURIES THAT RESULT FROM THE IMPACT OF SCHOOL BUS OCCUPANTS AGAINST STRUCTURES WITHIN THE VEHICLE DURING CRASHES AND SUDDEN MANEUVERS.

Remedy: MID BUS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 13, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MID BUS CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-877-358-6055.