Us bus/fmvss 221/bus joints
Defect Summary
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 Consequence
In the event of a crash, the side panels of the bus may not protect the occupants at the level required by the standard.
Corrective Action
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.
Similar Recalls
Other recalls from U.s. Bus Corporation or involving Structure.
FAQ: Recall 01V281000
Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.
What is recall 01V281000?
NHTSA recall 01V281000 was issued by U.s. Bus Corporation on September 6, 2001. It addresses: Us bus/fmvss 221/bus joints. The recall affects approximately 188 vehicles, with the defect involving the Structure component.
How do I get this recall repaired?
Contact any authorized U.s. Bus Corporation dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 01V281000 or the manufacturer campaign number NR (Not Reported). Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.
Is my vehicle included in this recall?
The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.
How long do I have to get a recall repair done?
There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.
Where does the data on this page come from?
All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.