School bus 44 loads up at this Haverhill Elementary School, pulls away with its precious cargo.
But what school officials didn't know, until we told them, this bus has several potential safety defects–and was recalled by the manufacturer.
Raleigh Buchanan, Haverhill Superintendent "I was really upset! Because this is the safety of children."
It's a new and disturbing discovery in an already shocking story. Last month, our investigation proved schools in Massachusetts and across the country had no idea their buses were recalled for dangerous defects because recall notices never reached them.
But now we've found the federal government investigated whether one bus company never sent the notices at all!
And we confirmed local school districts that should have been notified by the bus company, were not told of any recalls. They had no idea their vehicles were on a recall list, and needed immediate repair until we told them.
Clarence Ditlow, Center for Auto Safety "We not talking about an abstract remote risk, we're talking about a real danger to children in school buses."
The buses, like this one in Attleboro, were made by US Bus, which was purchased by a company called TCI in 2007. Attleboro officials confirm they were never notified of any recalls.
Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7News "If we hadn't told you about this would you know?"
Marc Furtado, Attleboro Public Schools"No. It's horribly irresponsible."
They yanked this bus out of service, until they can investigate the potential problems.
Marc Furtado, Attleboro Public Schools "They're putting children at risk!"
Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7News "You know that?"
Marc Furtado, Attleboro Public Schools "Sure!"
In Middleboro, we had to tell the superintendent their US Bus vehicles had been recalled.
Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7News "This bus had five recall notices, did you know about that?
Thomas Tatro, Middleborough Public Schools "Totally unaware."
As a result, this bus, all decorated by kids and in daily use, was taken off the road.
Thomas Tatro, Middleborough Public Schools "That means we were operating them potentially in an unsafe condition."
Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7News "What do you think about that?"
Thomas Tatro, Middleborough Public Schools "I think it's horrifying."
US Department of Transportation officials demanded TCI appear in Washington DC for a public hearing to investigate whether "TCI reasonably met notification and remedy requirements"– on fifteen recalls including defective seat backs, faulty emergency exits, stop arms that may fail to extend, improper seat belt attachments, brake problems…defects that could lead to "increasing the risk a passenger could be ejected in a crash" and "increasing the risk that occupants might be injured."
The bus company would not appear on camera, and initially told us in a statement:"TCI strongly disagrees" they're responsible for the recall notifications, "but will continue to work … in an effort to resolve this issue."
But now all these buses will be fixed. Late Tuesday after a last-minute settlement, the public hearing was cancelled.
TCI has now agreed to pay the feds $20,000, send recall notices for almost 6,000 buses, and pay for all the repairs.
Still, right now, in cash-strapped Haverhill, bus 44 and two others are carrying kids every day.
Hank Phillippi Ryan, 7News"Have you fixed the problems?"
Supt Raleigh Buchanan, Haverhill Public Schools "No, no…"
Officials say without replacements, they have no choice but to keep the potentially dangerous buses on the road.
Alex, Haverhill Parent"I think as a parent, it's not fair."
School officials now promise they're checking those buses every day, while they wait for the money to repair them.
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