Recall 10V637 covers 30 1999-2001 Girardin Mb Ii and Mb Iv school buses for blower-resistor overheating. Repair is free at any franchised Girardin dealer.
Girardin is recalling 30 1999-2001 Mb Ii and Mb Iv school buses equipped with a Trans/Air TA73 evaporator because the blower-speed resistor can overheat during an electrical short. A short in the low or medium blower-speed circuit can melt the plastic blower housing and start a fire; the dealer repair will be free once Girardin makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The Trans/Air TA73 evaporator in the 1999-2001 Girardin Mb Ii and Mb Iv school buses is part of the bus heating and air-conditioning system. Air moves across the evaporator, then the blower pushes that conditioned air through the passenger area. A power resistor in that system controls blower speed by changing how much electrical resistance is in the blower circuit.
On affected buses, a short in the low or medium speed circuit can create a problem while the blower is running on high speed. Instead of the fuse opening the circuit, supply voltage feeds back through the resistor to ground. The circuit does not draw enough current to trip the fuse, so the electrical fault is not stopped the way the fuse is meant to stop it.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or school staff member should not expect a dashboard light, unusual noise, or blower-speed change before the fault happens.
Who's affected?
Both Girardin models are listed across the 1999, 2000, and 2001 model years, with Equipment as the component.
| 2000 Girardin Mb Ii | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2001 Girardin Mb Ii | Equipment |
| 1999 Girardin Mb Iv | Equipment |
| 1999 Girardin Mb Ii | Equipment |
| 2001 Girardin Mb Iv | Equipment |
| 2000 Girardin Mb Iv | Equipment |
| Units affected | 30 |
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?
An overheated blower resistor can melt and ignite the plastic blower housing, creating a fire risk. Keep blower problems from turning into a cabin fire by scheduling the recall work soon and asking the dealer how to limit use until the repair is complete. Repair will be free at any franchised Girardin dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 1999-2001 Girardin Mb Ii or Mb Iv school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Girardin service location or the Trans/Air Warranty and Service Center at 1-800-673-2446 for current repair instructions.
- Ask for the free thermal shutdown device installation that prevents the blower-speed resistor from overheating the plastic blower housing.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 10V637 when you call.
- Avoid using the rear HVAC blower until the recall repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
The known repair is installation of a thermal shutdown device in series with the speed resistors for the Trans/Air TA73 evaporator. Once the repair is available, a Girardin technician or Trans/Air service center installs the device so an electrical short is interrupted before excess heat builds at the resistor circuit. The final dealer repair will be free once it opens. Contact the service desk with the recall number and ask where the Trans/Air warranty service work is being handled for your bus.
Timeline
| December 21, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 11, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V637?
Recall 10V637 covers 30 1999-2001 Girardin Mb Ii and Mb Iv school buses equipped with a Trans/Air TA73 evaporator. A short in the blower-speed circuit can overheat the resistor and melt or ignite the plastic blower housing. The repair adds a thermal shutdown device for free.
What should I do if my 1999-2001 Girardin Mb Ii or Mb Iv is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in recall 10V637. If it is, contact a Girardin dealer or Trans/Air Warranty and Service Center at 1-800-673-2446 to arrange the thermal shutdown device installation. The repair is free.
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 performed free of charge. Ask the Girardin dealer or Trans/Air service center to reference recall 10V637 when scheduling.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire from an overheated blower-speed resistor. If a short occurs while the blower is on high speed, current can feed back through the resistor without tripping the fuse. The resistor can overheat, melt the plastic blower housing, and start a fire.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V637000 |
|---|---|
| Girardin customer service | 1-800-673-2446 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V637 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V637000 |
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 →