NHTSA Service Bulletin 10115971: 1997-2016 Gillig 29 Foot Low Floor
Official manufacturer communication context for 1997-2016 Gillig 29 Foot Low Floor, with affected products, buyer checks and links into Carchieve recall, problem and VIN research.
Reviewed June 2026 from NHTSA manufacturer communication and service bulletin records. Carchieve is independent and not affiliated with any vehicle manufacturer or government agency.
Gillig has received reports of partial cracking in the steering gear mounting plate in some Low Floor buses. We are now requesting that owners of all Low Floor buses from model year 1997 through June, 2015 inspect the steering gear mounting plates per the instructions in this bulletin. Inspections should commence at the next Preventative Maintenance Cycle and continue at every 12,000 mile PM inspection thereafter. Steering Gear Mounting Plates found to have cracks less than 6 inches in length should be changed out at the earliest opportunity. Any bus found to have a Steering Gear Mounting Plate with a crack 6 inches long or longer must be immediately removed from service and the Plate replaced before reentering service. In either instance, Gillig will reimburse owners the cost of any replacement plate and the labor required to perform the repair. Lower floor
What this bulletin may mean before buying
Treat this as service research, not a verdict on one car. Before you buy, compare this communication with official recall campaigns, model-level owner complaint patterns, and the exact vehicle’s VIN-decoded specifications. A bulletin can help you ask a seller or dealer sharper questions about software updates, known repairs, warranty extensions and service history.
Affected products listed in this communication
Buyer checklist
- Run the 17-character VIN and confirm the year, make, model, engine and equipment match the listing.
- Check recall campaign pages for safety actions that may require dealer repair.
- Compare this bulletin with common problem pages for the same model and component area.
- Ask the seller or dealer whether the bulletin procedure, update or inspection has already been completed.
- Use the used-car buying checklist and get an independent inspection.
Frequently asked questions
What is NHTSA service bulletin 10115971?
Gillig has received reports of partial cracking in the steering gear mounting plate in some Low Floor buses. We are now requesting that owners of all Low Floor buses from model year 1997 through June, 2015 inspect the steering gear mounting plates per the instructions in this bulletin. Inspections should commence at the next Preventative Maintenance Cycle and continue at every 12,000 mile PM inspection thereafter..
Is a service bulletin the same as a recall?
No. A recall is a safety campaign with a required remedy for affected VINs. A service bulletin or manufacturer communication usually describes diagnostic, repair, software, warranty or service information.
How should a used-car buyer use this bulletin?
Use it as a research signal. Compare it with recalls, owner complaints, service records, a VIN report and an independent inspection before buying.
Check the exact VIN before you buy
Model-level pages show public safety patterns. A full VIN report helps confirm the exact vehicle, decoded specs, recall applicability and buyer checks.
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