NHTSA Campaign 01V241000

VISIBILITY:DEFROSTER/DEFOGGER/HVAC SYSTEM:FAN/MOTOR

Issued by AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. · Reported Nov 20, 2001 · 11,944 vehicles affected

What's wrong

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES WERE BUILT WITH A POOR QUALITY HEATER/DEFROSTER BLOWER SWITCH. IN SOME CASES THIS HAS CAUSED THE MELTING OF THE HEATER HARNESS CONNECTOR AT THE SWITCH TERMINALS OR THE HIGH-SPEED WIRE INSULATION AT THE CONNECTOR. ALSO, SOME OF THE UNITS HAD IMPROPER CIRCUIT PROTECTION SIZE INSTALLED IN THE HEATER DEFROSTER CIRCUIT.

Consequence

IF AN OPERATOR DETECTS SMOKE OR THE SMELL OF MELTING WIRE INSULATION FROM THE BLOWER CONTROL PANEL, THE OPERATION OF THE HEATER/DEFROSTER AT HIGH SPEED SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED UNTIL THE REPAIR IS MADE.

Remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH AND SWITCH HARNESS WITH A NEW SWITCH, SWITCH HARNESS, RELAY AND RELAY HARNESS. FOR THE RE UNITS BUILT PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1999, THE KIT WILL ALSO INCLUDE A 20-AMPERE MANUAL CIRCUIT BREAKER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AMTRAN AT 800-843-5615.

Vehicles affected by this recall

Make Model Year Units
AMTRAN FE 1999 11,944
AMTRAN FE 2000 11,944
AMTRAN FE 2001 11,944
AMTRAN RE 1996 11,944
AMTRAN RE 1997 11,944
AMTRAN RE 1998 11,944
AMTRAN RE 1999 11,944
AMTRAN RE 2000 11,944
AMTRAN RE 2001 11,944

Source: NHTSA Campaign 01V241000 on nhtsa.gov. To check the current repair status for a specific vehicle, use our free VIN decoder.