2003 Liberty Spirit recall: body & structure
⚠️ What's wrong
Certain school buses fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, "bus emergency exits and window retention release." the rear exit door handle is not recessed which CAN catch on an article of clothing or a back pack, inadvertently opening the door. Also, the required positive door opening device for rear exit door does not hold the door at 90 degrees with the body.
💥 The risk
In the event of a vehicle crash, and the vehicle ends up on its side, the door will not operate properly possibly hindering rapid egress from the vehicle.
🔧 The fix
Liberty bus will notify its customers and a metal bezel will be installed around the handle to recess it. Owner notification began april 2, 2004. Owners should contact liberty bus at 419-227-6554.
Is the fix free? Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer under federal law, including parts and labor. (Vehicles more than 15 years old when the recall was announced can be excluded, but most manufacturers still fix them.)
- NHTSA campaign
- 04V049000
- Manufacturer recall #
- 217/01/LIB
- Manufacturer
- LIBERTY BUS INCORPORATED
- Vehicles affected
- 11
- Component
- STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
- NHTSA hotline
- 1-888-327-4236
- Owner letters mailed
- Apr 2, 2004
- Built
- Jun 1, 2002 – Dec 31, 2002
- Recall started by
- OVSC
- Notes
- Liberty bus recall no. 217/01/lib.also, customers CAN contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).