Five Douglas County and eight Lake Tahoe Unified school buses recalled

Five Douglas County and eight Lake Tahoe Unified school buses landed in the shop last week as a result of a nationwide recall on Bendix brake systems.

Ohio-based Bendix Corp. is warning that 46,000 buses made by Blue Bird, International and Thomas Built may have braking problems at low speeds. The recall includes systems that were installed between March 1998 and August 2000.

Bob Murphy, district supervisor of vehicle maintenance, said Douglas County School District does not use Blue Bird buses.

"We don't have a single one," Murphy said. "However, there was also a recall by Thomas Built and International, and those buses we do have."

Two buses from Zephyr Cove schools and three from the valley inspected.

"We checked them out and they're fine," Murphy said.

Lake Tahoe Unified School District is also affected by the Bendix recall.

"We are doing the inspections right now," District Facilities Director Steve Morales said. "We just became aware of the recall Wednesday when our notification came through. We are doing the inspection that is required and any bus that is found to have a problem will be grounded until we are able to replace the components."

More than 1,500 Blue Bird buses were also recalled for dysfunctional steering columns. The recall affected the All American model buses manufactured after March 1998, according to the Associated Press.

A letter from Blue Bird to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said only 15 of the 1,581 buses recalled are believed to be defective.