Recall 10V561 covers 53 2003-2007 Startrans Mfsab buses with an evaporator blower resistor fire risk. Repair is free at Startrans dealers.
Startrans is recalling 53 2003-2007 Mfsab school activity buses equipped with Trans/Air TA73 evaporators because a blower-speed power resistor can overheat after an electrical short. A short in the blower circuit can melt the plastic blower housing and result in a fire; the Startrans dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The Trans/Air TA73 evaporator in the 2003-2007 Startrans Mfsab school activity bus is part of the air-conditioning system. Its blower moves air across the evaporator core and into the passenger area, and a power resistor helps set the blower speed by controlling how much electrical current reaches the blower circuit.
In affected buses, the problem is in the low or medium speed circuit when the blower is running on high speed. If that circuit shorts, supply voltage feeds back through the resistor to ground instead of flowing through the circuit as designed. The fault does not draw enough current to trip the fuse, so the fuse fails to shut the circuit down.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or driver is not expected to see a light, hear a sound, or feel a change from the air-conditioning controls before the electrical fault occurs.
Who's affected?
Covers one Mfsab bus model across five model years, all under the equipment component.
| 2004 Startrans Mfsab | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2003 Startrans Mfsab | Equipment |
| 2007 Startrans Mfsab | Equipment |
| 2006 Startrans Mfsab | Equipment |
| 2005 Startrans Mfsab | Equipment |
| Units affected | 53 |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
An overheated blower resistor can melt and ignite the plastic blower housing, resulting in a fire. There is no listed warning sign before overheating, so treat unusual heat, smoke, or electrical odor as a reason to stop using the vehicle and call the dealer. Repair will be free at any franchised Startrans dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2003-2007 Startrans Mfsab is included in this recall.
- Contact Startrans customer service at 1-800-673-2446 for current repair instructions.
- Ask about the free thermal shutdown device installation that stops the blower resistor from overheating the plastic housing.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 10V561 when you call.
- Avoid using the Trans/Air blower until the thermal shutdown device is installed.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Startrans technician installs a thermal shutdown device in series with the speed resistors for the Trans/Air TA73 evaporator. The device is added to the blower speed resistor circuit so an electrical short has a protected shutdown path instead of overheating the resistor area. Startrans and Trans/Air state that this service is performed free of charge, and the safety recall began on January 7, 2011.
Timeline
| November 15, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 7, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V561?
Recall 10V561 covers 53 2003-2007 Startrans Mfsab school activity buses equipped with Trans/Air TA73 evaporators. A short in the blower-speed circuit can overheat the resistor, melt the blower housing, and lead to a fire. The repair adds a thermal shutdown device for free.
What should I do if my 2003-2007 Startrans Mfsab is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V561. If it is, contact a franchised Startrans dealer or the Trans/Air warranty and service center at 1-800-673-2446 to schedule the free thermal shutdown device installation.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the recall remedy says the thermal shutdown device installation is free of charge. Ask the Startrans dealer or Trans/Air service center to reference recall 10V561 when setting up the repair.
What is the safety risk in recall 10V561?
The safety risk is fire. If the blower-speed circuit shorts while the blower is running on high speed, the resistor can overheat, melt, and ignite the plastic blower housing. The free repair adds a thermal shutdown device to stop that overheating path.
When did the recall repair become available?
The safety recall began on January 7, 2011. That means owners can contact a franchised Startrans dealer or the Trans/Air warranty and service center at 1-800-673-2446 for the free thermal shutdown device installation tied to recall 10V561.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V561000 |
|---|---|
| Startrans customer service | 1-800-673-2446 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V561 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V561000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →