NHTSA Recall 05V321000
Filed by NEOPLAN USA CORPORATION. Component: Structure. Reported 2005-07-14. An estimated 311 vehicles are affected. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.
Defect
ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH VAPOR DOOR ASSEMBLIES, THE TWO PIECE CURVED CONNECTING RODS WHEN USED AS AN ELEMENT OF THE DOOR ACTUATION LINKAGE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A VAPOR MEDIUM PNEUMATIC DIFFERENTIAL ENGINE, MAY BE SUBJECT TO FATIGUE FAILURE RESULTING IN BENDING OR BREAKING OF THE CONNECTING ROD.
Risk
A BROKEN CONNECTING ROD CAN ALLOW THE DOOR PANEL TO MOVE FREELY IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER, LEAVING PASSENGERS INSIDE THE VEHICLE UNPROTECTED BY THE DOOR PANEL AND ENABLING A PROTRUDING DOOR PANEL TO STRIKE PERSONS OR OBJECTS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.
What the manufacturer will do
NEOPLAN IS WORKING WITH VAPOR BUS INTERNATIONAL TO NOTIFY OWNERS AND HAVE THE REPAIR PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLES. THE REMEDY CONSISTS OF REPLACING THE TWO PIECE CONNECTING ROD WITH A ONE PIECE CONNECTING ROD. OWNERS MAY CONTACT VAPOR AT 1-847-777-6400 OR NEOPLAN AT 1-719-336-3256.
Notes
CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236; (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.