1997 Carpenter Classic

Routine

No owner complaints are on file for this vehicle. It has been recalled 3 times.

3 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Seats00V207000
Filed Aug 3, 20003,205 vehiclesCarpenter Industries, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. ADDITIONAL REINFORCEMENT BARS WERE INSTALLED WHILE PERFORMING A PREVIOUS SEAT RECALL (98V-238). THESE BARS WERE INSTALLED INTO THE PROTECTION ZONE ON THE BACK OF THE SEATS.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY PROTECTED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. CARPENTER HAS GONE OUT OF BUSINESS. DEALERS WERE TO REMOVE THE ADDITIONAL STEEL REINFORCEMENT.

Seats98V238000
Filed Sep 28, 19983,255 vehiclesCarpenter Industries, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THE BACK PANEL OF THE PASSENGER SEATS WAS NOT ADEQUATELY WELDED.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY PROTECTED AND PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR.

Remedy. CARPENTER WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH DETAILED INSPECTION INSTRUCTIONS AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE NECESSARY PARTS TO REPAIR THESE SEATS.

Visibility › Windshield97V077000
Filed May 9, 19974,037 vehiclesCarpenter Industries, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. SIDE EMERGENCY PUSH-OUT WINDOWS MAY NOT OPEN PROPERLY DUE TO INTERFERENCE WITH EXTERIOR BOW CAP. EMERGENCY DOOR(S) MAY NOT HAVE REQUIRED OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS LOCATED ADJACENT TO INTERIOR DOOR HANDLE. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."

Risk. EXIT WINDOWS MAY NOT OPEN PROPERLY DURING AN EMERGENCY.

Remedy. OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH MODIFICATION INSTRUCTIONS OR IF THEY SO DESIRE, CAN CONTACT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER FOR ASSISTANCE.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1995
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
1997 — this page0300Routine
19960500Routine
19951700Routine
19940400Routine
19930400Routine
19920400Routine
19910400Routine
19900300Routine

Compare every Classic year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Aug 3, 2000. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.