NHTSA Complaint #10357209 — 1998 IC 3800

WE ARE A SCHOOL DISTRICT IN UPSTATE NEW YORK. WE OWN A 1998 INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL BUS. DURING A MONTHLY INSPECTION OUR MECHANIC NOTICE THAT A SECTION OF THE FRAME THAT DID NOT LOOK NORMAL. AFTER CLOSELY INSPECTING THIS AREA IT APPEARS THAT THE STEEL IS EXPANDING. THIS IS MUCH DIFFERENT THEN RUSTING FROM THE OUTSIDE IN. IT APPEARS WATER IS SOME HOW WORKING ITS WAY INTO THE STEEL AND CAUSING IT TO EXPAND. IT LOOKS SIMILAR TO WHEN WAFERBOARD GETS WET CAUSING IT TO SWELL. OUR NEW YORK STATE DOT INSPECTOR WILL NOT PASS THE BUS IN THIS CONDITION. WE HAVE TWO OTHER BUSES PURCHASED THAT SAME YEAR STARTING TO DEVELOP THE SAME ISSUE. WE CURRENTLY KEEP OUR BUSES 15 TO 16 YEARS AND NEVER HAVE HAD AND ISSUE WITH THE FRAMES. THE ONLY REPAIR INTERNATIONAL IS RECOMMENDING IS THE REPLACEMENT OF THE ENTIRE FRAME RAIL. *TR