'Critical Defect' MAN Double-Decker Bus Speeds on Road... 'Passenger Safety Threatened'

Gyeonggi-do Requests Defect Investigation from Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport... 117 Vehicles Nationwide Subject to Recall

Man(MAN) Saro Logo Capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Ra Young-cheol] Following engine defects in MAN trucks, serious manufacturing defects such as engine stalling have been discovered in double-decker buses, threatening passenger safety.

According to Gyeonggi Province on the 30th, after conducting a joint investigation last month with transportation companies and the Bus Transportation Business Association, a defect investigation was requested from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport to accurately identify the cause of the malfunction symptoms. Currently, the Korea Transportation Safety Authority's Vehicle Safety Research Institute is conducting the defect investigation.

MAN has acknowledged the defect and decided to conduct a voluntary recall of the double-decker buses it manufactured, announcing the corrective action on the same day. The recall targets 117 double-decker buses nationwide, including 109 operating in Gyeonggi Province.

Even before MAN's recall measures, the province plans to immediately suspend operation of any vehicles found to have potential safety issues such as risk of malfunction through proactive diagnostics and deploy replacement vehicles.

Additionally, MAN was requested to conduct its own vehicle inspections, and since the 8th, MAN has been touring transportation companies within the province to inspect its double-decker buses.

Due to a defect caused by an error in the crankshaft material composition, MAN will begin replacing crankshafts on 10 double-decker buses with potential damage starting in August this year.

From October, measures will be taken on 109 buses to address issues related to EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) coolant leaks and possible engine infiltration.

Previously, last month, MAN also conducted a recall due to manufacturing defects such as engine stalling in its cargo trucks and tractors.

Lee Yong-ju, head of the Public Bus Division, stated, "Since double-decker buses operate on highways and carry up to 70 passengers, vehicle management requires special attention," adding, "We will continue to manage double-decker buses rigorously to ensure the transportation safety of residents."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.