Recall 11V228 covers 109 2006-2011 Micro Bird G5 and Mb Ii school buses for missing stop-arm alarms. Repair is free at franchised Micro Bird dealers.
Micro Bird is recalling 109 2006-2011 G5 School Bus and Mb Ii School Bus vehicles because the 4-way warning lights lack an alarm when the stop arm fails to deploy. That can make the driver think the stop arm is out while the red lights are on, which increases injury risk to pedestrians; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The exterior warning system on the 2006-2011 Micro Bird G5 School Bus, Mb Ii School Bus, G5, and Mb Ii school buses is supposed to warn traffic when students are loading or unloading. When the driver activates the red warning lights, the stop arm should extend so nearby drivers get a clear visual command to stop. The system also needs a driver alert when that arm fails to deploy.
On these buses, the red warning lights can turn on without an alarm telling the driver that the stop arm stayed folded. That missing alert is the defect. The driver sees the lights are active, but the bus does not give a separate warning that the pedestrian safety device has not moved into position.
There is no warning sign before failure. The first sign is the stop arm failing to deploy when the red lights are activated, unless the driver or another person sees the arm position directly.
Who's affected?
Spans school bus variants across the 2006-2011 model years, all tied to exterior lighting.
| 2010 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | Exterior lighting |
|---|---|
| 2011 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | Exterior lighting |
| 2011 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | Exterior lighting |
| 2010 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | Exterior lighting |
| 2007 Girardin G5 | Exterior lighting |
| 2006 Girardin G5 | Exterior lighting |
| 2006 Girardin Mb Ii | Exterior lighting |
| 2007 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | Exterior lighting |
| 2008 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | Exterior lighting |
| 2009 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | Exterior lighting |
| 2008 Girardin G5 | Exterior lighting |
| 2009 Girardin G5 | Exterior lighting |
| 2010 Girardin G5 | Exterior lighting |
| Units affected | 109 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
The warning light condition can make the driver think the school bus stop arm is deployed while only the first set of 4 red lights is active. That confusion increases the risk of injury to pedestrians around the bus. Use extra care around pedestrians until the repair is handled. Repair will be free at any franchised Micro Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2006-2011 Micro Bird G5 School Bus, Mb Ii School Bus, G5, or Mb Ii is included in this recall.
- Watch for Micro Bird's recall notice dated June 2, 2011 before scheduling the dealer repair.
- Contact a franchised Micro Bird dealer about replacing the 4-way warning lights with lights that include an alarm for a stop arm that has not deployed.
- Reference recall number 11V228 when you call, and ask the dealer to confirm that parts and labor are free.
- Use extra care around loading and unloading zones until the warning-light alarm repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Micro Bird technician replaces the affected warning lights with warning lights that include an alarm. The alarm alerts the driver when the stop arm does not deploy while the red warning lights are active. The dealer repair will be free once available through the recall process. Ask the service desk to confirm the warning-light replacement listed for your VIN.
Timeline
| April 11, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 2, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V228?
Recall 11V228 covers 109 2006-2011 Micro Bird G5 School Bus, Mb Ii School Bus, G5, and Mb Ii school buses with warning lights that lack the required alarm for a stop arm that does not deploy. Micro Bird dealers will replace the affected warning lights for free.
What should I do if my 2006-2011 Micro Bird G5 School Bus, Mb Ii School Bus, G5, or Mb Ii is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 11V228. If it is, contact a franchised Micro Bird dealer to schedule the warning-light replacement. Reference recall number 11V228 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Micro Bird's remedy says dealers will replace the affected warning lights with warning lights that have an alarm free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is pedestrian injury. The driver can think the stop arm is deployed while the first set of 4 red lights is activated, even when the stop arm did not deploy. The dealer repair adds the required alarm to alert the driver.
When were owners notified about recall 11V228?
Micro Bird began the safety recall during June 2011. If you operate or bought one of these school buses after that notice period, check your VIN and call a franchised Micro Bird dealer with recall number 11V228.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V228000 |
|---|---|
| Micro Bird customer service | 1-819-477-2012 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V228 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V228000 |
Source documents
-
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 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →