2015 Trans Tech Bus STUDENT SAFETY TRANSPORT: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2015-11-02 (November 2, 2015)

Transportation Collaborative, Inc. (Transportation Collaborative) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Trans Tech Student Safety Transporter, ST Aero, and Roadster school buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to April 21, 2014, and equipped with certain Ricon model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, S5510 wheelchair lifts. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Consequence: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

Remedy: Transportation Collaborative will notify owners, and owners will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2015. Owners may contact Transportation Collaborative customer service at 1-845-988-0419, or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Note: These buses and wheelchair lifts were subject to a similar recall in 2014. All vehicles that received that recall remedy are still affected by this recall as well.

Reported: 2016-01-08 (January 8, 2016)

Transportation Collaborative, Inc. (Transportation Collaborative) is recalling certain model year 2015 Trans Tech Bus Student Safety Transporter, Student Transporter Aero, and Roadstar school buses manufactured May 1, 2015, to November 15, 2015, equipped with certain Transpec T6000, T6100, and T7000 series school bus stop arms. The affected stop arms have a reflective decal that may peel loose from the stop arm. As such, these stop arms fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 131, "School Bus Pedestrian Safety Devices."

Consequence: Without a reflective decal, the stop arms would have reduced visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Transportation Collaborative will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop arm blade assembly, free of charge. The recall began on January 27, 2016. Owners may contact Transportation Collaborative customer service at 1-845-988-0419 or the manufacturer of the stop arms at 1-800-951-7867. Transportation Collaborative's number for this recall is 15E-090.

Reported: 2016-02-12 (February 12, 2016)

Transportation Collaborative, Inc. (Transportation Collaborative) is recalling certain model year 2012-2015 Trans Tech Student Safety Transporter school buses manufactured from December 1, 2012, through April 23, 2015. In the event of a crash, the barrier on the driver's side may not deform as intended. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Standard (FMVSS) number 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."

Consequence: If the barrier does not deform properly, vehicle occupants are at a greater risk of injuries should they impact the barrier in a crash.

Remedy: Trans Tech will notify owners and provide a free retrofit kit along with installation instructions. An interim notice was distributed to owners on April 14, 2016. The recall began on April 18, 2016. Owners may contact Transportation Collaborative customer service at 1-845-988-0419.

Reported: 2016-05-26 (May 26, 2016)

Transportation Collaborative, Inc. (Transportation Collaborative) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Trans Tech Student Safety Trasnporter (SST) and ST Aero school buses manufactured from January 2, 2014, through January 1, 2016, and equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts by Ricon. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack. Additionally, the lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Consequence: If the platform side plates crack or the platform mounting fails from out-of-position bearings, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the vehicle's doors are opened, the platform may fall onto the lift operator, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy: Transportation Collaborative will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 28, 2016. Owners may contact Transportation Collaborative customer service at 1-845-988-0419.

Reported: 2017-10-04 (October 4, 2017)

Transportation Collaborative, Inc. (Transtech) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Trans Tech SST, ST Aero, and SST FLR school buses built on Chevrolet chassis and equipped with certain CE White-brand QS11 Series convertible school bus seats. These seats were manufactured with integral D-Ring mounting studs that may have inadequate padding between the occupant and the D-ring mounting stud.

Consequence: In the event of a rear end collision, the seat occupant's head may contact the D-ring mounting stud, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Transtech will notify owners, and dealers will add the proper padding, free of charge. The recall began on November 15, 2017. Owners may contact Transtech customer service at 1-845-988-0419. Transtech's number for this recall is 17e045.