2006 Girardin MB II

CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 GIRARDIN G5 AND MBII AND MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 MICRO BIRD G5 AND MB II SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 2006 THROUGH APRIL 5, 2011, FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 131, "SCHOOL BUS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY DEVICES." THE 4-WAY WARNING LIGHTS DO NOT HAVE AN ALARM TO ALERT THE DRIVER THAT THE STOP ARM DID NOT DEPLOY WHEN THE 4 RED LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED.

RiskTHE DRIVER COULD ERRONEOUSLY THINK THAT THE SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM IS DEPLOYED WHILE THE FIRST SET OF 4 RED LIGHTS ARE ACTIVATED. THIS CONDITION INCREASES RISK OF INJURY TO PEDESTRIANS.

FixMICRO BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AFFECTED WARNING LIGHTS WITH WARNING LIGHTS THAT HAVE AN ALARM FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN DURING JUNE 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT MICRO BIRD AT 1-819-477-2012.

GIRARDIN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MY 2005 AND 2006 MB II AND MB IV G5 SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN 2005 AND DECEMBER 2006, EQUIPPED WITH RICON S OR K SERIES WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES."

RiskA LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.

FixGIRARDIN IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS (PLEASE SEE 07E097). THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 18, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-800-322-2884 OR GIRARDIN MINIBUS AT 1-819-477-2012 EXT. 428.

CERTAIN MY 2004 THROUGH 2008 GIRARDIN MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL MINIBUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 14, 2004, AND NOVEMBER 28, 2007, BUILT ON FORD E350 AND E450 DIESEL CHASSIS. THE AFFECTED BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH OPTION BBX (BATTERY BOX). THE PROTECTION FROM ABRASION ON THE BATTERY CABLES THAT CROSS IN THE BATTERY BOX IS INADEQUATE. IT MAY CREATE A SHORT CIRCUIT IN CASE THE ABRASION BETWEEN THE CABLES IS EXCESSIVE.

RiskTHIS SHORT CIRCUIT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

FixGIRARDIN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES BY ADDING PROTECTIVE TUBES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 7, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT GIRARDIN AT 819-477-8222.

CERTAIN MY 2005 AND 2006 MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 2005 AND JUNE 2006, ON FORD AND GM CHASSIS WITH 6.6L ENGINES EQUIPPED WITH BRAUN LIFT MODELS NL916, NL917, AND NL919. THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT ACTIVATE AS DESIGNED WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

RiskSHOULD THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM FAIL TO OPERATE, THE LIFT USER CAN FALL FROM THE VEHICLE AND BE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

FixOWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY GIRARDIN INSTRUCTING THEM TO CONTACT BRAUN FOR FREE REPAIR. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 18, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT BRAUN PRODUCT SUPPORT AT 1-800-946-7513 OR GIRARDIN MINIBUS SERVICE AND WARRANTY DEPARTMENT AT 819-477-8222.

CERTAIN GIRARDIN SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH AND DECEMBER 2006. THE DEFECT INVOLVES THE INTERLOCK SWITCH SYSTEM IN THE LIFT NOT DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER (EITHER WHEELCHAIR OR STANDEE) ON THE RICON WHEELCHAIR PLATFORM LIFT WHICH DOES NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES. IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION OCCURS DURING PASSENGER OPERATIONS IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR THE WHEELCHAIR TO TIP BACKWARDS ONTO THE PLATFORM WHEN THE PLATFORM WAS LOWERED.

RiskTHIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE WHEELCHAIR'S OCCUPANT. ALSO, ANYONE STANDING ON THE PLATFORM COULD LOSE HIS OR HER BALANCE AND FALL, RESULTING IN INJURY.

FixGIRARDIN IS WORKING WITH RICON TO REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 06E101). THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 18, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT GIRARDIN AT 819-477-8222 EXT. 401 OR RICON AT 800-322-2884.

CERTAIN MY 2006 GIRARDIN MB II AND MB IV SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES BUILT ON FORD AND GM CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 3 AND JUNE 19, 2006. THE 7" DIA. BACK-UP LIGHTS, P/N 32EZZ014, FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE ILLUMINATION REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT.

RiskTHE PRESENCE OF THE MINIBUS MAY NOT BE PERCEIVED CORRECTLY OR ITS SIGNAL NOT UNDERSTOOD BY OTHER MOTORISTS WHICH COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

FixGIRARDIN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE THE NONCOMPLIANT BACK-UP LIGHTS FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GIRARDIN CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 819-477-8222.

CERTAIN GIRARDIN MY 2005 AND 2006 MB IV SCHOOL AND COMMERCIAL BUSES AND 2006 MB II SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 29, 2005, AND MAY 10, 2006, AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON K-SERIES WHEELCHAIR LIFTS, P/N K5505-F1020000A & K2010-F1020000A. THE WELDING PROCESS MAY NOT HAVE ACHIEVED FULL PENETRATION ALONG THE SEAM OF THE VERTICAL ARMS. IMPROPERLY WELDED VERTICAL ARMS WILL NOT ALLOW THE LIFT TO STOW PROPERLY.

RiskIN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION OCCURS DURING PASSENGER OPERATIONS IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE LIFT DOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE INTERLOCKS TO REMAIN ENGAGED PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE OR THE ABILITY TO LOAD OR UNLOAD PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES FROM THE VEHICLE.

FixRICON IS CONDUCTING THIS RECALL (PLEASE SEE 06E008000) AND WILL REPLACE THE TWO VERTICAL ARMS EVEN IF ONLY ONE ARM IS CRACKED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON CUSTOMER SUPPORT DEPT. AT 800-322-2884 OR OWNERS MAY CONTACT GIRARDIN AT 819-477-8222.