1996 Carpenter Classmate

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.

Structure › Body96V097000

Filed Jun 7, 19963,382 vehiclesCarpenter Industries, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. PASSENGER'S CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

Risk. WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy. CARPENTER IS SENDING CORRECTIVE PARTS TO OWNERS ALONG WITH INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS.

All 3 campaigns on file, newest first.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1997

Year	Recalls	Assessment
1997	1	Routine
1996 — this page	3	Routine
1995	2	Routine
1994	2	Routine
1993	2	Routine
1992	3	Routine
1991	3	Routine
1990	3	Routine

Compare every Classmate year →

Other Carpenter models

All Carpenter models →

School Bus 33 Carpenter 30

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.