Other: school bus stop arm assemblyRecall 05V-352 · Girardin vehicles

GIRARDIN MINIBUS INC. recall 05V-352 covers 1,498 Girardin vehicles for a other: school bus stop arm assembly problem, reported to NHTSA on August 4, 2005.

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Vehicles repairedNo manufacturer report yet
Vehicles affected1,4982 models
ReportedAug 4, 2005Owners notified Aug 22, 2005
Complaints since0Same system, after the recall

Source: NHTSA recall 05V352000 and manufacturer quarterly reports. Started by an NHTSA defect investigation.

What's wrong

The problem

CERTAIN GIRARDIN MY 2002 THROUGH 2005 MB II & MB IV SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2002, AND AUGUST 8, 2005, AND EQUIPPED WITH "5" SERIES STOP ARMS MANUFACTURED BY SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING COMPANY. 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.

The risk

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.

What to do

The fix

GIRARDIN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND 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 FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 22, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GIRARDIN AT 1-800-951-7867.

GIRARDIN RECALL NO. 05-010-SAU.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236; (TTY:1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Recall repairs are free. Confirm whether this recall is open on your vehicle by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

2 models

Vehicles in this recall

Built from January 1, 2002 to August 8, 2005. Not every vehicle in these model years is included; check by VIN.

Background

The investigation behind this recall

  1. INTERMITTENT STOP SIGNAL ARMPE05011 · closed Jun 22, 2005
    NHTSA