INADEQUATE WELDING QUALITY CONTROL SEATS
Opened Aug 31, 1998
Closed Dec 3, 1998
SEATSLed to recall 98V238000
1997 Carpenter School Bus
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
12
Latest May 10, 2000
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
3
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0
Overview
Our database contains 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1997 Carpenter School Bus, most frequently naming the interior & seats and driver assistance categories. 3 NHTSA investigations name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 3 months of data.
What owners report
Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded
- Interior & seats763.6%
- Driver assistance436.4%
Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.
Safety recalls
No recalls in our database for this model year
That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
CRACKING OF ROOF SUPPORT STRUCTURE
Opened Jun 8, 1998
Closed Dec 16, 1998
There is no summary currently available
STRUCTURE
INADEQUATE WELDING PASSENGER SEAT
Opened Apr 27, 1998
Closed Aug 31, 1998
OPERATORS OF AFFECTED BUSES HAVE ALLEGED TWO ISSUES RELATIVE TO INADEQUATE WELDING QUALITY CONTROL IN THE CONTRUCTION OF THE PASSENGER SEATS:1) SPOT WELD FAILURE BETWEEN THE SEAT BACK PAN (SHEET METAL) AND FRAME; 2) INADEQUATE WELD FINISHING BELOW THE SEAT BENCH RESULTING IN CHILDREN BEING EXPOSED TO SHARP EDGES.
SEATS
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
Filed May 10, 2000
OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT WHICH IS MOUNTED ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCHOOL BUS AT DRIVER'S SEAT IS NOT PADDED AS REQUIRED IN TITLE 67, CHAPTER 171, SECTION 171.58 " THE SCHOOL BUS AND SCHOOL VEHICLE EQUIPMENT STANDARDS." THIS OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT IS SITUATED IN A MATTER WHICH COULD CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT LOCATED IMMEDIATELY BEHIND DRIVER DUE TO LACK OF PROTECTIV EPADDING ON SHARP CORNER OF COMPARTMENT. *AK
- NHTSA ID
- 784240
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 29, 1999
DESIGN LOCATION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE IS CAUSING CHAFFING AGAINST THE HOUSING RESULTING IN THE THROTTLE PEDAL STICKING TO THE FOLLOR. YH
- NHTSA ID
- 549382
- Incident
- Jul 12, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 29, 1999
DESIGN LOCATION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE IS CAUSING CHAFFING AGAINST THE HOUSEING RESULTING IN THE THROTTLE PEDAL STICKING TO THE FOLLOR. YH
- NHTSA ID
- 549364
- Incident
- Jul 12, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 29, 1999
DESIGN LOCATION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE IS CAUSING CHAFFING AGAINST THE HOUSEING RESULTING IN THE THROTTLE PEDAL STICKING TO THE FOLLOR. YH
- NHTSA ID
- 549362
- Incident
- Jul 12, 1999
Driver assistance
Filed Oct 29, 1999
DESIGN LOCATION OF THE THROTTLE CABLE IS CAUSING CHAFFING AGAINST THE HOUSEING RESULTING IN THE THROTTLE PEDAL STICKING TO THE FOLLOR. YH
- NHTSA ID
- 549359
- Incident
- Jul 12, 1999
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 30, 1998
SEAT BACKS COMING LOOSE DUE TO WELD FAILURES ON SEVERAL SEATS.
- NHTSA ID
- 533295
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 13, 1998
BACK SECTION OF THE BUS SEATS BEGAN TO BREAK LOOSE AT THE BASE.
- NHTSA ID
- 605948
- Incident
- Sep 1, 1997
Interior & seats
Filed Mar 13, 1998
BACK SECTION OF BUS SEATS BROKE LOOSE AT THE BASE.
- NHTSA ID
- 605947
- Incident
- Sep 1, 1997
Compare model years
Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.