Recall 10V645 affects 26 1999-2002 Girardin Mb Iv buses for an evaporator-resistor short that creates fire risk. Repair is free at any franchised Girardin dealer.
Girardin recall 10V645 covers 26 1999-2002 Mb Iv transit buses equipped with a Trans/Air TA73 evaporator because a blower-speed resistor can overheat after an electrical short. The overheating can melt the resistor and raise fire risk, and the dealer repair will be free once Girardin makes it available.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The Trans/Air TA73 evaporator on 1999-2002 Girardin Mb Iv transit buses is part of the bus air-conditioning system. It helps cool air before the blower sends that air through the passenger compartment. A power resistor in that evaporator circuit controls blower speed by limiting electrical flow when the fan is set below high speed.
In recall 10V645, the problem is in the blower-speed circuit. If a short occurs in the low or medium speed circuit while the blower is running on high, supply voltage feeds back through the resistor to ground. That path does not draw enough electrical current to trip the fuse, so the circuit is not cut off the way it should be.
There is no warning sign before failure. The filing does not list a dashboard light, sound, smell, or blower behavior that tells an owner or driver the circuit has begun to fail.
Who's affected?
Spans the 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002 model years for the same Mb Iv equipment component.
| 2002 Girardin Mb Iv | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2001 Girardin Mb Iv | Equipment |
| 1999 Girardin Mb Iv | Equipment |
| 2000 Girardin Mb Iv | Equipment |
| Units affected | 26 |
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?
The blower resistor can overheat enough to melt and ignite the plastic blower housing, resulting in a fire. Schedule the recall repair soon, and ask the dealer whether the blower system should stay off until service. Repair will be free at any franchised Girardin dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 1999-2002 Girardin Mb Iv is included in this recall.
- Contact Girardin or the Trans/Air warranty and service center for repair timing before putting the bus back in service.
- Schedule the free thermal-shutdown-device installation that stops the Trans/Air TA73 blower resistor from overheating.
- Reference recall number 10V645 when you call, and ask whether the repair has already been completed on your bus.
- Keep the blower system off until the repair status is confirmed if you smell heat, see melted plastic, or suspect overheating.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Girardin technician installs a thermal shutdown device in series with the Trans/Air evaporator speed resistors. The device is added to the blower resistor circuit so the system shuts down under the recall condition instead of feeding voltage through the resistor to ground. The source remedy says this service is performed free of charge. The dealer repair will be free once available, so confirm the appointment path with the dealer before relying on a scheduled repair.
Timeline
| December 27, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 11, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V645?
Recall 10V645 covers 26 1999-2002 Girardin Mb Iv transit buses with a Trans/Air TA73 evaporator blower-speed resistor defect. A short in the low or medium speed circuit can overheat the resistor and ignite the plastic blower housing. Girardin service will install a thermal shutdown device for free.
What should I do if my 1999-2002 Girardin Mb Iv is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V645. If it is, contact a Girardin service provider or the 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 will be performed free of charge. Keep the recall number, 10V645, available when you call for service.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire from an overheating blower-speed resistor. If the resistor overheats, it can melt and ignite the plastic blower housing where it is mounted. The remedy adds a thermal shutdown device in series with the speed resistors to stop that overheating path.
What if I bought this Girardin Mb Iv used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included, then give recall number 10V645 to the Girardin service provider or Trans/Air when you call.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V645000 |
|---|---|
| Girardin customer service | 1-800-673-2446 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V645 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V645000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation 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 →