RoadVitals

2003 Collins Grand Bantam Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
Recall campaignsA 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.
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Newest May 23, 2011
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
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Open 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.
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Recall campaigns

5 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

May 23, 2011
702 units potentially affected
The defect: COLLINS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2011 BANTAM, GRAND BANTAM, AND SUPER BANTAM SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2002 THROUGH MAY 20, 2011, FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE LEG PROTECTION ZONE IMPACT REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD 222 "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION."
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY PROTECTED AND MAY SUSTAIN INJURIES.
The remedy: COLLINS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL FOAM PADDING UNDER THE UPHOLSTERY FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 18, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT COLLINS BUS AT 1-800-533-1850.
COLLINS BUS CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

OTHER:SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM ASSEMBLY

Aug 1, 2005
1,345 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN 2002-2005 MY COLLINS BANTAM, SUPER BANTAM, AND GRAND BANTAM SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SPECIALTY MFG "5" SERIES STOP ARMS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 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.
The remedy: COLLINS BUS WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE 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 OCTOBER 12, 2005. CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT COLLINS BUS CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-533-1850 OR SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING AT 1-800-951-7867.
COLLINS BUS CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

OTHER:SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM ASSEMBLY

Aug 1, 2005
687 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN 2002-2005 MY COLLINS BANTAM, SUPER BANTAM, AND GRAND BANTAM SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH "5" SERIES STOP ARMS. THESE SCHOOL BUSES WERE ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN STATES OTHER THAN THE FOLLOWING: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 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.
The remedy: COLLINS WILL NOTIFY ALL ITS CUSTOMERS OF THIS CAMPAIGN. FOR THOSE BUSES OPERATED IN OR NEAR ANY OF THE STATES LISTED ABOVE, COLLINS IS ENCOURAGING THE BUS OWNERS TO OBTAIN THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH. FOR THOSE BUSES OPERATED IN THE WARMER STATES, COLLINS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCH UPON OWNER REQUEST. FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO REQUEST THE REMEDY, COLLINS WILL 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. THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BEGAN OCTOBER 12, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT COLLINS AT 800-448-7825 OR SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING AT 1-800-951-7867.
COLLINS BUS CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
May 2, 2005
272 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN COLLINS MY 2002-2005 BANTAM, SUPER BANTAM, AND GRAND BANTAM MODEL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 22, 2002, AND APRIL 27, 2005. THESE BUSES WERE EQUIPPED WITH A BENCH-STYLE SINGLE PASSENGER SEATS HAVING A LOWER CUSHION SURFACE OF 24 INCHES IN WIDTH. THESE SEATS SHOULD HAVE A SEATING SURFACE OF ONLY 22 INCHES FOR A SIGNAL DESIGNATED SEATING POSITION. THESE SEATS DO NOT CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 222, SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION.
The risk: THESE SEATS SHOULD HAVE A SEATING SURFACE OF ONLY 22 INCHES WIDE TO HAVE A SINGLE DESIGNATED SEATING POSITION. BECAUSE THE 24 INCH CUSHION IS WIDER THAN 22 INCHES, THE POTENTIAL EXISTS FOR TWO PASSENGERS TO BE SEATED IN THIS SEAT. A SECOND PASSENGER WOULD NOT HAVE AN AVAILABLE SEAT BELT FOR RESTRAINT AND MAY BE INJURED IN A CRASH.
The remedy: COLLINS WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE 24 INCH SEAT CUSHION WITH A 22 INCH SEAT CUSHION FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN APRIL 29, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT COLLINS CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-533-1850.
COLLINS BUS CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT

Aug 22, 2003
16 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH FLOOR MOUNTED WHEELCHAIR ANCHORAGE POCKETS THAT ARE USED TO ACCOMMODATE AND SECURE WHEELCHAIRS, DURING MANUFACTURING, THE REINFORCEMENT PLATE FOR THE POCKET MAY HAVE BEEN PLACED IN THE WRONG POSITION. THIS WOULD NOT ALLOW THE SCREWS TO BE ATTACHED THROUGH IT.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE ANCHORAGE MAY NOT RETAIN THE WHEELCHAIR. SERIOUS INJURY TO THE WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT OR OTHER VEHICLE OCCUPANTS MAY RESULT.
The remedy: COLLINS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES BY INSERTING A REINFORCEMENT EXTENSION PLATE AND REDRILLING HOLES INTO THIS PLATE FOR THE WHEELCHAIR ANCHORAGE SCREWS TO PASS THROUGH. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS BEGAN SEPTEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT COLLINS AT 1-800-533-1850.
COLLINS BUS CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A 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.
Safety investigation
NHTSA 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.
Manufacturer communication
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources