Recall 10V627 affects 112 2008-2009 Girardin G5 school buses for weak interior sheet-metal joints. Repair is free at any franchised Girardin dealer.
Girardin is recalling 112 2008-2009 G5 school buses because the left-side interior sheet metal below the window lacks adhesive at a body joint and fails the federal school bus body joint strength standard. In a crash, the aluminum sheet can separate from the compartment structure and injure passengers; the Girardin dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
On 2008-2009 Girardin G5 school buses, the problem is in the sheet metal below the window on the left-hand side inside the bus. That area uses two embossed aluminum sheets joined together as part of the bus body. The joint is supposed to hold with enough strength to meet the school bus body joint strength standard referenced in NHTSA campaign 10V627.
On these buses, the joint between those two aluminum sheets was built without adhesive. Without that bonding material, the sheets do not join as firmly as required. The issue is not a loose trim piece or a cosmetic panel gap; it is a body joint that fails to meet the required strength standard for a school bus body.
There is no warning sign before failure. Owners and fleet operators should not expect a dashboard light, noise, or visible symptom to confirm the defect.
Who's affected?
Both model years list the same body-structure component.
| 2009 Girardin G5 | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2008 Girardin G5 | body structure |
| Units affected | 112 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash, the embossed aluminum sheet is the concern: separation from the interior compartment structure can injure bus passengers. There is no listed warning sign before this defect matters, so confirm whether the bus is included and plan the repair. Repair will be free at any franchised Girardin dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2008-2009 Girardin G5 school bus is included in this recall.
- Call Girardin customer service at 1-819-477-2021 to confirm repair scheduling for recall number 10V627.
- Contact a franchised Girardin dealer about the free adhesive and rivet repair that strengthens the joint between the two embossed aluminum sheets.
- Bring the recall notice if Girardin has mailed one, along with any service records tied to this body-joint repair.
- Keep passengers out of the affected bus until Girardin or the dealer confirms the repair path.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Girardin technician repairs the body joint below the left side window inside the bus by adding adhesive and rivets between the 2 embossed aluminum sheets. The filing says the safety recall began on January 5, 2011. Because dealer availability is not confirmed, confirm the repair appointment with the Girardin service desk before sending the bus in. The dealer repair will be free once available.
Timeline
| December 15, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 5, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V627?
Recall 10V627 covers 112 2008-2009 Girardin G5 school buses with an interior body-joint defect on the left-hand side below the window. In a crash, the embossed aluminum sheet can separate from the compartment structure and injure bus passengers.
What should I do if my 2008-2009 Girardin G5 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V627. If it is, contact a franchised Girardin dealer to schedule the repair. The dealer adds adhesive and rivets between the 2 embossed aluminum sheets, and the repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Girardin dealers repair the affected buses by adding adhesive and rivets between the 2 embossed aluminum sheets free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is passenger injury during a crash. The body joint below the left-side window does not meet the school-bus body joint strength requirement, so the embossed aluminum sheet can separate from the interior structure during impact.
When did the recall repair begin?
The safety recall repair began on January 5, 2011. That date is in the past, so owners of affected 2008-2009 Girardin G5 buses can ask a franchised Girardin dealer to complete the free body-joint repair now.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V627000 |
|---|---|
| Girardin customer service | 1-819-477-2021 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V627 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V627000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 →