2001 Amtran Re Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 2001 Amtran Re has 8 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 89,236 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

VISIBILITY 04V251000 2004-05-24 4,157 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES, THE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO OPERATE THE EMERGENCY EXIT DID NOT MEET THE MINIMAL LETTER HEIGHT OF 1-CENTERMETER. THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO 217, BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE.

Consequence

THE LABEL MAY NOT BE VISIBLE TO THE OPERATOR, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY IF THE OCCUPANTS CANNOT EXIT THE BUS QUICKLY.

Remedy

IC WILL MAIL NEW LABELS WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 25, 2004. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT IC AT 501-505-2190.

STRUCTURE 03V354000 2003-09-23 66,749 affected
Defect

CE MODEL SCHOOL BUSES WHICH FAIL TO COMPLY TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH. THE ROOF TOP SHEET MAY BE IMPROPERLY LOCATED, REDUCING THE MATERIAL EDGE DISTANCE AT THE RIVET LINE.

Consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE JOINT STRENGHT COULD FAIL POSSIBILY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy

IC WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL PROVIDE INSPECTION AND REPAIR INSTRUCTION. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 25, 2005. 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 IC CUSTOMER SERVICE AT (WE DO NOT…

STRUCTURE 02V200000 2002-08-07 1,689 affected
Defect

CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH." THE ENTRANCE DOOR STEPWELL VERTICAL JOINTS WERE BUILT WITH AN INADEQUATE NUMBER OF FASTENERS.

Consequence

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS JOINT DURING A CRASH COULD BE REDUCED ALLOWING SEPARATION OF THE JOINTS WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN OPENING OR PROTRUSION OF METAL EDGES IN THE STEPWELL AREA, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS FREE OF CHARGE. ADDITIONAL FASTENERS WILL BE ADDED TO THE VERTICAL JOINTS OF THE STEPWELL. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN AUGUST 22, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT…

VISIBILITY 01V241000 2001-11-20 11,944 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES WERE BUILT WITH A POOR QUALITY HEATER/DEFROSTER BLOWER SWITCH. IN SOME CASES THIS HAS CAUSED THE MELTING OF THE HEATER HARNESS CONNECTOR AT THE SWITCH TERMINALS OR THE HIGH-SPEED WIRE INSULATION AT THE CONNECTOR. ALSO, SOME OF THE UNITS HAD IMPROPER CIRCUIT…

Consequence

IF AN OPERATOR DETECTS SMOKE OR THE SMELL OF MELTING WIRE INSULATION FROM THE BLOWER CONTROL PANEL, THE OPERATION OF THE HEATER/DEFROSTER AT HIGH SPEED SHOULD BE DISCONTINUED UNTIL THE REPAIR IS MADE.

Remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS TO REPLACE THE SWITCH AND SWITCH HARNESS WITH A NEW SWITCH, SWITCH HARNESS, RELAY AND RELAY HARNESS. FOR THE RE UNITS BUILT PRIOR TO JANUARY 1, 1999, THE KIT WILL ALSO INCLUDE A 20-AMPERE MANUAL CIRCUIT BREAKER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 15, 2001. OWNERS…

SEATS 01V269000 2001-08-26 3,694 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH 39-INCH FLIP SEATS. THE FLIP SEATS COULD BIND IN THE OCCUPIED POSITION AND NOT RETURN TO THE STORED POSITION WHEN NOT OCCUPIED. THE CUSHION FRAME SUPPORT BAR SLIDES OFF THE SEAT SUPPORT PAD, WHICH COULD RETAIN THE SEAT IN THE OCCUPIED POSITION.

Consequence

THE SEAT COULD BLOCK THE AISLE TO THE EMERGENCY EXIT DURING AN EMERGENCY, WHICH MAY RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS AND PARTS TO REPAIR THE SEATS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 23, 2001. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AMTRAN AT 800-843-5615.

VISIBILITY 01V145001 2001-04-26 603 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ROSCO CROSS OVER MIRRORS. THE POSITION OF THE DRIVER'S REAR VIEW MIRROR DOES NOT ALLOW COMPLETE VISIBILITY OF PEDESTRIANS AS REQUIRED UNDER FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 111, "REARVIEW MIRRORS."

Consequence

A PEDESTRIAN COULD BE INJURED OR KILLED IF THE DRIVER OF THE SCHOOL BUS CANNOT SEE THEM.

Remedy

AMTRAN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO REPOSITION THE DRIVER'S REAR VIEW MIRROR UP 3 1/8 INCHES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 4, 2001. 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 AMTRAN AT…

VISIBILITY 00V390000 2000-11-27 73 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH HEHR INTERNATIONAL REAR EXIT WINDOWS WITH VANDAL LOCKS. THESE BUSES WERE BUILT WITH REAR EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOWS INCORPORATING A LOCK OPTION THAT COULD BE LEFT IN THE LOCK POSITION AND ALLOW THE ENGINE TO BE STARTED. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF …

Consequence

DURING THE OPERATION OF THE BUS, THE WINDOW COULD REMAIN LOCKED AND IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE WINDOW INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO REPAIR THE NONCOMPLIANCE.

EQUIPMENT 00V208000 2000-08-02 327 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THESE VEHICLES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 565, "VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER REQUIREMENTS." THE VEHICLES HAVE THE WRONG MODEL YEAR CODE IN THE VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER (VIN).

Consequence

THESE ERRORS WILL AFFECT THE REGISTRATION OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH CORRECTED CERTIFICATION LABELS.

Complaints by component

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
1
Total complaints1

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Expeirencing electrical harness melt down on international school buses. Use the latest as an example of what is happening. It apprears to be the wire harness for the heaters before and after the heater switches, including the switches are melting and shorting to geather. On this bus the breaker…”

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING · reported 2004-03-29

Defect investigations

Investigation PE03023 Opened 2003-06-04 · closed 2003-08-20

STEERING SHAFT BOLT BINDS ON COVER

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY A SCHOOL BUS FLEET ALLEGING THAT A BUS DRIVER COULD NOT STEER WHILE ATTEMPING TO MAKE A TURN.A SECOND FLEET CONTACTED ODI AND INDICATED THEY WERE HAVING SIMILAR PROBLEMS. ODI EXAMINED THE BUSES AND FOUND THE STEERING BOOT GETS TWISTED AROUND THE STEERING SHAFT, CREATING HIGHSTEERING…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 2001 Amtran Re as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.