Navistar announced that it is recalling nearly 3,500 of its IC Bus BE, CE and RE Series school buses to fix roof escape hatches that could hinder emergency evacuations.
The NHTSA recall campaign that launches in August is for 2012 and 2013 model-year school buses manufactured from April 1, 2011 through March 31 of this year. The buses are equipped with Prolo roof hatches by Specialty Manufacturing, Inc. (SMI) that encounter increased friction between rear plate assemblies with the part number 009327 and the nylon rear pop-up support with the part number 008956.
The friction may result in an opening force that exceeds FMVSS 217 on “Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release.”
Navistar said SMI will provide service kits and repair instructions to dealers and owners free of charge.
