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NHTSA Recall 01V281000: Body (structure)

U.S. BUS CORPORATION reported this safety recall to NHTSA on , covering an estimated 188 vehicles. It affects 1998–2001 US Bus Sturdibus.

188
vehicles potentially affected
1
model affected
2003
owners notified (September 10)
NHTSA campaign01V281000
ComponentSTRUCTURE › BODY
Report receivedSeptember 6, 2001
Owner notificationSeptember 10, 2003
Initiated byNHTSA Office of Vehicle Safety Compliance

Defect

Vehicle description: certain school buses fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, "school bus body joint strength." these buses have insufficient metal hemming in the panel joints.

Safety risk

In the event of a crash, the side panels of the bus may not protect the occupants at the level required by the standard.

Remedy

On the right and left rear exterior panel joints behind the rear wheels, an additional 4 steel rivets will be added at each 8" section between the rub rails to the joint for both sides of the bus. The interior ceiling panel joint will go from the left side to the right side inside the bus. On the interior celing panels center joint from the front to the rear inside of the bus, 4 new steel rivets will be added every 8" section from front to the rear of the bus. Owner notification began september 10, 2003. Owners who do not receive the free modification kit and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact us bus at 1-845-357-2510.

Notes

Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Vehicles covered by recall 01V281000

Make and modelModel years
US Bus Sturdibus1998, 1999, 2000, 2001

Being listed here means the campaign covers the model year, not that every car was built with the defect or is still unrepaired. Enter your VIN above to check your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free at authorised dealers. Source: NHTSA, October 2026.