IllustrationSEAT BACKS BREAK LOOSE AT THE BASE.
1997 Carpenter School Bus
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all School Bus years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 12 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Seats. Review the 7 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Vehicle Speed Control. Review the 4 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
12 reportsSEAT BACK BREAKS LOOSE AT THE BASE.
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
3EA98020 · Inadequate Welding Quality Control Seats
Opened Aug 31, 1998 · Closed Dec 3, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
No summary supplied.
PE98036 · Cracking Of Roof Support Structure
Opened Jun 8, 1998 · Closed Dec 16, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Structure
There is no summary currently available
PE98027 · Inadequate Welding Passenger Seat
Opened Apr 27, 1998 · Closed Aug 31, 1998
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
OPERATORS OF AFFECTED BUSES HAVE ALLEGED TWO ISSUES RELATIVE TO INADEQUATE WELDING QUALITY CONTROL IN THE CONTRUCTION OF THE PASSENGER SEATS:1) SPOT WELD FAILURE BETWEEN THE SEAT BACK PAN (SHEET METAL) AND FRAME; 2) INADEQUATE WELD FINISHING BELOW THE SEAT BENCH RESULTING IN CHILDREN BEING EXPOSED TO SHARP EDGES.