Prolo Bus Roof Escape Hatches Recalled for Excessive Opening Force
Specialty Manufacturing Co. is recalling Prolo bus roof escape hatches installed on school and transit buses because increased friction may prevent them from opening easily in an emergency.
What this means for you
Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.
Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (roof escape hatch) that fails to meet federal safety standards for emergency egress, posing a significant risk of injury in an emergency, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for structural vehicle defects.
Plain-English summary
Specialty Manufacturing, Inc. (SMI) is recalling certain Prolo bus roof escape hatches that were installed as original equipment on various school and transit buses shipped from April 1, 2011, through March 25, 2012. These hatches may also have been used as service replacement parts.
The recall is due to increased friction between the rear plate assemblies and the nylon rear pop-up support. This friction may result in an opening force that exceeds federal standard requirements, causing the hatches to fail to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."
In the event of an emergency, a noncompliant hatch may not provide a means of readily accessible egress, increasing the risk of injury to vehicle occupants. SMI is working with bus manufacturers to identify and notify owners. The buses will be repaired free of charge. Owners should review the list of affected Prolo model and part numbers provided by SMI or contact SMI at 1-800-951-7867 or their vehicle manufacturer to determine if their hatch is affected.
The recalled product
- Product
- STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS recall
- Manufacturer
- SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING CO.
- Affected units
- 15,462
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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