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1997 Carpenter School Bus

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →
12Owner complaints

Model-year median: 0

0Recall campaigns

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3Investigations

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How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
4
19942
19954
199612
19970
1998
Compare all School Bus years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seats
7Vehicle Speed Control
4Unknown Or Other
1

Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

Limited mileage data: 0 of 12 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Seats. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports

Unknown Or Other complaints

1 reports
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Mileage unknown · May 10, 2000
Unknown Or Other

OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT WHICH IS MOUNTED ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCHOOL BUS AT DRIVER'S SEAT IS NOT PADDED AS REQUIRED IN TITLE 67, CHAPTER 171, SECTION 171.58 " THE SCHOOL BUS AND SCHOOL VEHICLE EQUIPMENT STANDARDS." THIS OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT IS SITUATED IN A MATTER WHICH COULD CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT OF …

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OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT WHICH IS MOUNTED ALONG THE LEFT SIDE OF THE SCHOOL BUS AT DRIVER'S SEAT IS NOT PADDED AS REQUIRED IN TITLE 67, CHAPTER 171, SECTION 171.58 " THE SCHOOL BUS AND SCHOOL VEHICLE EQUIPMENT STANDARDS." THIS OVERHEAD COMPARTMENT IS SITUATED IN A MATTER WHICH COULD CAUSE DEATH OR SERIOUS INJURY TO THE OCCUPANT OF THE SEAT LOCATED IMMEDIATELY BEHIND DRIVER DUE TO LACK OF PROTECTIV EPADDING ON SHARP CORNER OF COMPARTMENT. *AK

NHTSA ODI #784240

Official recalls

0

No recalls in this snapshot.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

3

EA98020 · Inadequate Welding Quality Control Seats

Opened Aug 31, 1998 · Closed Dec 3, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

No summary supplied.

PE98036 · Cracking Of Roof Support Structure

Opened Jun 8, 1998 · Closed Dec 16, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure

There is no summary currently available

PE98027 · Inadequate Welding Passenger Seat

Opened Apr 27, 1998 · Closed Aug 31, 1998

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats

OPERATORS OF AFFECTED BUSES HAVE ALLEGED TWO ISSUES RELATIVE TO INADEQUATE WELDING QUALITY CONTROL IN THE CONTRUCTION OF THE PASSENGER SEATS:1) SPOT WELD FAILURE BETWEEN THE SEAT BACK PAN (SHEET METAL) AND FRAME; 2) INADEQUATE WELD FINISHING BELOW THE SEAT BENCH RESULTING IN CHILDREN BEING EXPOSED TO SHARP EDGES.