Recall 10V049 affects 112 2009 Collins Bantam, Super Bantam, and Grand Bantam school buses for a faulty brake-turn separator module. Collins dealers replace it free.
Collins is recalling 112 2009 Super Bantam, Grand Bantam, and Bantam school buses because the rear brake and turn-signal control module can mix up brake and turn inputs from the Ford chassis wiring. That can make rear turn signals cancel or flash intermittently while braking, confusing drivers behind the bus and raising crash risk; the Collins dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The brake-turn separator module on these 2009 Collins Super Bantam, Grand Bantam, and Bantam school buses is an electrical controller for the rear brake lights and turn signals. It reads signals from the Ford cutaway chassis wiring, then sends the right command to the rear stop, tail, and turn lamps. In normal operation, drivers behind the bus see both braking and turn intent clearly.
On affected buses, the module does not always tell the brake signal apart from the turn command under a narrow driving pattern. If the brake pedal is pumped or applied at the same rhythm as the blinking turn signal while the indicator is on, the brake signal through the module can briefly cancel the turn signal or make it flash intermittently. That means the rear signal seen by other drivers is less clear during that moment.
There is no warning sign before failure. The lights work during ordinary brake and turn-signal use, so the problem shows up only when the braking rhythm and turn signal line up.
Who's affected?
Covers the Super Bantam, Grand Bantam, and Bantam bus lines, with turn-signal and brake-light components listed separately for each model.
| 2009 Collins Super Bantam | Turn signal |
|---|---|
| 2009 Collins Super Bantam | Brake lights |
| 2009 Collins Grand Bantam | Turn signal |
| 2009 Collins Grand Bantam | Brake lights |
| 2009 Collins Bantam | Turn signal |
| 2009 Collins Bantam | Brake lights |
| Units affected | 112 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
Incorrect brake and turn signal separation can confuse drivers behind the bus about whether it is turning or stopping. That confusion increases crash risk, especially when traffic is close behind or approaching a stop. Use extra space, signal early, and schedule service promptly. Repair will be free at any franchised Collins dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009 Collins Super Bantam, Grand Bantam, or Bantam bus is included in this recall.
- Contact Collins customer service or a franchised Collins dealer to confirm the free repair path for recall number 10V049.
- Schedule the brake-turn signal separator module replacement that fixes rear brake and turn signal confusion.
- Bring the recall notice if Collins mailed one, and ask the dealer to confirm whether your bus has the separator module.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete, especially when braking while a turn signal is on.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Collins technician checks whether the bus has a brake-turn signal separator module. If it does, the technician replaces that module, which controls how rear brake lights and turn signal lights receive signals from the Ford chassis wiring. The dealer repair will be free once available. Collins notified owners when the safety recall began on March 2, 2010. If the bus lacks that separator module, the technician can document that the recalled part is not installed.
Timeline
| February 18, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 2, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V049?
Recall 10V049 covers 112 2009 Collins Super Bantam, Grand Bantam, and Bantam school buses built on Ford cutaway chassis. The brake-turn signal separator module can cancel the rear turn signal or make it flash intermittently while braking, creating confusion for traffic behind the bus. Collins dealers replace the module for free if the bus has one.
What should I do if my 2009 Collins Super Bantam, Grand Bantam, or Bantam is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V049. If it is, contact a Collins dealer or Collins customer service at 1-800-533-1850 to schedule inspection and replacement of the brake-turn signal separator module if the bus has one.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Collins' recall remedy says dealers will replace the brake-turn signal separator module, if the bus is equipped with one, free of charge. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to provide the recall repair at no cost to the owner.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is confusion for vehicles behind the bus. Under a specific braking and turn-signal condition, the rear turn signal can cancel out or flash intermittently, making it unclear whether the bus is turning or stopping and increasing crash risk.
What if I bought this Collins bus used?
The free recall repair still applies to a used bus. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2009 Collins Super Bantam, Grand Bantam, or Bantam is included, then give recall 10V049 to the Collins dealer or service desk when scheduling the repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V049000 |
|---|---|
| Collins customer service | 1-800-533-1850 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V049 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V049000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →