Vehicle recall 98V238000 · September 28, 1998
Carpenter Classic, Counselor and 2 more models
Vehicle description: school buses.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- Vehicle description: school buses. The back panel of the passenger seats was not adequately welded.
- Consequence
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the seat occupant may not be properly protected and personal injury could occur.
- Remedy
- Carpenter will provide owners with detailed inspection instructions and provide them with the necessary parts to repair these seats.
- Notes
- Owner notification began November 25, 1998.OWNERS who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contactcarpenter at 1-765-965-4000. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 98V238000
- Reported to NHTSA
- September 28, 1998
- Filed by
- CARPENTER INDUSTRIES, INC.
- Owner notification
- November 25, 1998
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 3,255
- Initiated by
- NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation
- Components
- Seats
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
- Carpenter Cadet (1996-1997): 1997, 1996
- Carpenter Classic (1995-1997): 1997, 1996, 1995
- Carpenter Classmate (1996): 1996
- Carpenter Counselor (1995-1997): 1997, 1996, 1995
Has your Carpenter been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Carpenter dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.