Recall 11V581 affects 850 2001-2012 Kingmor Cesb, Fesb, and Resb school buses for air-conditioner fuse arcing. Kingmor provides the free retrofit kit and repair instructions.
Kingmor is recalling 850 2001-2012 Cesb, Fesb, and Resb school buses because the fuse in certain Carrier GENV EM-1 evaporator units can loosen in its holder, causing high resistance and arcing. If enough arcing occurs, the fuse holder can melt with flame or smoke and a potential fire; the Kingmor dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The recalled Kingmor 2001-2012 Cesb, Fesb, and Resb school buses use a Carrier GenV EM-1 evaporator unit as part of the air conditioning system. The evaporator is the inside unit that moves cabin air across a cold coil, then sends cooled air back into the bus. Inside that unit, a fuse holder in the motor assembly protects the electrical circuit from excess current.
On affected buses, the fuse can loosen in the holder over time. Heat, vibration, and normal use can reduce the tight electrical contact the fuse needs. Once the contact is loose, resistance rises at that point in the circuit. That high resistance can cause electrical arcing inside the fuse holder.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or driver should not count on noise, a warning light, or a change in air conditioning performance before the fuse holder problem appears.
Who's affected?
Spans Cesb, Fesb, and Resb models from 2001-2012, all tied to the air conditioner component.
| 2005 Kingmor Cesb | Air conditioner |
|---|---|
| 2006 Kingmor Cesb | Air conditioner |
| 2007 Kingmor Cesb | Air conditioner |
| 2008 Kingmor Cesb | Air conditioner |
| 2009 Kingmor Cesb | Air conditioner |
| 2010 Kingmor Cesb | Air conditioner |
| 2004 Kingmor Fesb | Air conditioner |
| 2003 Kingmor Fesb | Air conditioner |
| 2002 Kingmor Fesb | Air conditioner |
| 2001 Kingmor Fesb | Air conditioner |
| 2012 Kingmor Resb | Air conditioner |
| 2011 Kingmor Resb | Air conditioner |
| 2008 Kingmor Resb | Air conditioner |
| 2007 Kingmor Resb | Air conditioner |
| 2007 Kingmor Fesb | Air conditioner |
| 2008 Kingmor Fesb | Air conditioner |
| 2010 Kingmor Fesb | Air conditioner |
| 2010 Kingmor Resb | Air conditioner |
| 2006 Kingmor Fesb | Air conditioner |
| 2005 Kingmor Fesb | Air conditioner |
| 2011 Kingmor Cesb | Air conditioner |
| 2011 Kingmor Fesb | Air conditioner |
| 2009 Kingmor Fesb | Air conditioner |
| 2009 Kingmor Resb | Air conditioner |
| 2012 Kingmor Cesb | Air conditioner |
| 2004 Kingmor Cesb | Air conditioner |
| Units affected | 850 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
Electrical arcing in the fuse holder can melt the holder and bring flame, smoke, or fire. If smoke or flame appears, stop using the vehicle and call the dealer before moving it again. Repair will be free at any franchised Kingmor dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2001-2012 Kingmor Cesb, Fesb, or Resb school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact Kingmor or Carrier for the free retrofit kit and repair instructions for the Carrier GenV EM-1 evaporator unit.
- Reference recall number 11V581 and Carrier recall 11E-003 when you call.
- Stop using the air-conditioning unit if you see smoke, flame, or melting near the fuse holder, and arrange repair before returning it to service.
- Bring the owner notice and retrofit instructions to the repair appointment so the fuse-holder repair is handled at no charge.
What happens at the repair
Kingmor's remedy is a Carrier retrofit kit for the affected EM-1 evaporator unit. At the service location, a Kingmor technician obtains the kit, installs it on the evaporator unit, and follows Carrier's repair instructions for the fuse holder and motor assembly. The recall service is free of charge. The source remedy says the safety recall began on February 21, 2012, but it does not give an estimated shop time or a separate reimbursement program. Ask Kingmor what documentation to bring before the vehicle goes in.
Timeline
| December 8, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 21, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V581?
Recall 11V581 covers 850 2001-2012 Kingmor Cesb, Fesb, and Resb school buses equipped with certain Carrier GenV EM-1 evaporator units. The fuse can loosen in the fuse holder, creating high resistance and arcing. Kingmor provides retrofit kit instructions, and the service is free.
What should I do if my 2001-2012 Kingmor Cesb, Fesb, or Resb is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 11V581. If it is, contact Kingmor or Carrier for the retrofit kit path and repair instructions. Reference recall number 11V581 when you call. The service is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Kingmor's recall remedy states that the retrofit kit service and repair instructions are provided free of charge. The repair path runs through Kingmor or Carrier, so have the VIN, bus model, and recall number 11V581 ready when you contact them.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is fire from the air-conditioning evaporator unit fuse holder. If arcing continues, the fuse holder can melt and produce flame or smoke. Until the retrofit is completed, operators should confirm whether each bus is included and follow Kingmor or Carrier repair instructions.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V581000 |
|---|---|
| Kingmor customer service | 1-800-793-4741 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V581 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V581000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (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 →