Safety Recall NHTSA · 03V365000 Reported October 3, 2003

Girardin/fmvss 209/beams seat belt buckle unlatch

Girardin Minibus Inc. · N/A · 46 vehicles potentially affected

NHTSA ID
03V365000
Manufacturer Campaign
03-005-SB
Manufacturer
Girardin Minibus Inc.
Component
N/A
Vehicles Affected
46
Recall Type
Vehicle
Report Received
October 3, 2003

Defect Summary

My 2003 mbii & mbiv school buses built on ford e-350 & e-450, gm 3500 chassis, and manufactured between august 25 and september 17, 2003. these buses are equipped with beam's industries seat belts. the metal frame of the seat belt buckle may fracture due to possible embrittlement of the steel, resulting in a potential release of the engaged tongue during use. these seat belt assemblies do not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 209, "seat belt assemblies."

Safety Consequence

In the event of a vehicle crash, the buckle may unlatch, and possible injury or death could occur to the seat occupant.

Corrective Action

Beam's industries will notify the customers of girardin directly and will provide them with the remedy and installation instructions free of charge. owners should contact beam's at 1-888-343-9266 or girardin at 1-819-477-8222.

What you should do

  1. Look up your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm this recall applies to your vehicle.
  2. Contact an authorized Girardin Minibus Inc. dealer and reference recall ID 03V365000 or campaign 03-005-SB.
  3. Schedule the free repair. By federal law, the manufacturer must remedy the defect at no cost.
View Official NHTSA Notice →
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FAQ: Recall 03V365000

Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.

What is recall 03V365000?

NHTSA recall 03V365000 was issued by Girardin Minibus Inc. on October 3, 2003. It addresses: Girardin/fmvss 209/beams seat belt buckle unlatch. The recall affects approximately 46 vehicles, with the defect involving the N/A component.

How do I get this recall repaired?

Contact any authorized Girardin Minibus Inc. dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 03V365000 or the manufacturer campaign number 03-005-SB. 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.