RecallMyCar

Carpenter School Bus Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 5 safety recalls and 23 owner complaints across 11 model years of the Carpenter School Bus (1977–1997). The most-complained-about year is 1997.

5
safety recalls, all years
23
owner complaints, all years
1981
year with most recalls
1997
year with most complaints

Pick your Carpenter School Bus model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1997 Carpenter School Bus012
1996 Carpenter School Bus04
1995 Carpenter School Bus02
1994 Carpenter School Bus04
1989 Carpenter School Bus01
1988 Carpenter School Bus10
1987 Carpenter School Bus20
1983 Carpenter School Bus10
1982 Carpenter School Bus20
1981 Carpenter School Bus20
1977 Carpenter School Bus10

What Carpenter School Bus owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 23 complaints with NHTSA. The 1997 model year has the most, with 12.

All Carpenter School Bus recalls (5)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Carpenter School Bus, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Door (structure)

    NHTSA 88V169000 Reported 745 vehicles potentially affected CARPENTER BDY WRKS, INC.

    Remedy: Install c clips of the proper size.

    Model years: 1987, 1988

  2. Body (structure)

    NHTSA 87V114000 Reported 874 vehicles potentially affected CARPENTER BDY WRKS, INC.

    Bus bodies may not meet the 60 percent joint efficiency requirements of FMVSS 221 due to insufficient bonding of the adhesive in the joint.

    Remedy: Repair joints by installing a sufficient number of fasteners to mechanically bring joints into compliance.

    Model years: 1987

  3. Frame and members (structure)

    NHTSA 83V038000 Reported 186 vehicles potentially affected CARPENTER BDY WRKS, INC.

    During a collision, certain interior panels could separate because they have been inadequately fastened. Interior ceiling and body panel joints may not comply with strength requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 221, "school bus body joint strength".

    Remedy: The dealer will inspect and install additional fasteners in the interior ceiling panel and wall panel joints at no charge to owner.

    Model years: 1981, 1982, 1983

  4. Frame and members (structure)

    NHTSA 83V004000 Reported 19 vehicles potentially affected CARPENTER BDY WRKS, INC.

    During manufacture, inconsistencies may have occurred in the welds joining floor sections. Certain welded joints may have weaknesses and may not comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard 221, "school bus body joint strength". Improper welds may allow sections of the floor to separate in a severe collision.

    Remedy: The dealer will inspect all involved vehicles and any necessary corrective action will be made at no cost to owner.

    Model years: 1981, 1982

  5. Body (structure)

    NHTSA 80V008000 Reported 693 vehicles potentially affected CARPENTER BDY WRKS, INC.

    Certain interior body panel joints fail to meet the 60 percent joint strength as required by federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, "school bus body joint strength".

    Remedy: Dealer will inspect the body panel joints and locally reinforce them with mechanical fasteners.

    Model years: 1977

Other Carpenter models

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.