Recall 11V502 covers 11 2006-2008 Collins Bantam, Super Bantam, and Grand Bantam buses for loose evaporator fuses. Repair is free at any franchised Collins dealer.
Collins is recalling 11 2006-2008 Bantam, Super Bantam, and Grand Bantam school buses equipped with Carrier GenV EM-1 evaporator units because the fuse can loosen in the holder, creating high resistance and arcing. If enough arcing occurs, the fuse holder can melt and start a vehicle fire; the Collins dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The recalled part is the Carrier GenV EM-1 evaporator unit in certain 2006-2008 Collins Bantam, Super Bantam, and Grand Bantam school buses. This air-conditioning evaporator sits inside the bus's climate-control system and helps pull heat from cabin air. Its electrical circuit uses a fuse seated in a fuse holder, which is supposed to stay tight enough to carry current cleanly.
On these buses, time, temperature, or vibration can loosen the fuse in the holder. A loose fuse does not make solid contact, so electrical resistance builds at the connection. That resistance can create arcing, which means electricity jumps across a small gap instead of flowing through a tight metal contact.
There is no warning sign before failure. Because no driver-noticeable symptom is identified, treat any air-conditioning electrical issue as a reason to have the bus inspected before continued use.
Who's affected?
Spans the Bantam, Super Bantam, and Grand Bantam bus models across 2006-2008, all tied to the air conditioner.
| 2008 Collins Bantam | Air conditioner |
|---|---|
| 2008 Collins Super Bantam | Air conditioner |
| 2008 Collins Grand Bantam | Air conditioner |
| 2007 Collins Bantam | Air conditioner |
| 2007 Collins Super Bantam | Air conditioner |
| 2006 Collins Bantam | Air conditioner |
| 2007 Collins Grand Bantam | Air conditioner |
| 2006 Collins Grand Bantam | Air conditioner |
| 2006 Collins Super Bantam | Air conditioner |
| Units affected | 11 |
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?
Severe arcing in the fuse holder can melt the holder and lead to a vehicle fire. Treat this as an electrical fire risk and schedule the recall work soon, especially before regular passenger service. Repair will be free at any franchised Collins dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2006-2008 Collins Bantam, Super Bantam, or Grand Bantam is included in this recall.
- Watch for Collins instructions if you have not received them, then ask how to get the Carrier retrofit kit for the GenV EM-1 evaporator fuse holder.
- Contact a Collins bus service center before using the air conditioner again, and reference recall number 11V502 when you call.
- Arrange the free retrofit kit installation that secures the loose fuse holder and reduces the arcing and fire risk.
- Call Carrier at 1-800-793-4741 if Collins directs you to Carrier for kit instructions.
What happens at the repair
At the service visit, a Collins technician uses Carrier's retrofit kit and repair instructions to correct the Carrier GenV EM-1 evaporator fuse holder condition. The work focuses on securing the fuse connection so heat, vibration, and time do not loosen the fuse in its holder. Collins provides owners with the information needed to obtain the Carrier kit, and the recall service is free. Because the current source does not list an explicit labor time, ask the service desk how long the retrofit takes when the appointment is set.
Timeline
| October 14, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 11, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V502?
Recall 11V502 covers 11 2006-2008 Collins Bantam, Super Bantam, and Grand Bantam school buses equipped with Carrier GenV EM-1 evaporator units. The fuse can loosen in its holder, create high resistance and arcing, melt the holder, and lead to a vehicle fire.
What should I do if my 2006-2008 Collins Bantam, Super Bantam, or Grand Bantam is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 11V502. If it is, contact Collins or the service desk for repair instructions and the Carrier retrofit kit. Reference recall number 11V502 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 Collins says this service is performed free of charge. The remedy uses a Carrier retrofit kit with repair instructions for the affected evaporator-unit fuse holder.
What is the safety risk in recall 11V502?
The safety risk is vehicle fire. If the evaporator-unit fuse loosens, high resistance and arcing can occur at the fuse holder. Enough arcing can melt the fuse holder and start a fire, so confirm the VIN and arrange the free retrofit if the bus is included.
What if I bought this Collins bus used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. If you never received the November 11, 2011 owner notice, check your VIN to confirm whether your bus is included, then call Collins or the service desk with recall number 11V502.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V502000 |
|---|---|
| Collins customer service | 1-800-793-4741 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V502 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V502000 |
Source documents
-
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 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →