The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·12V269000·Announced 2012-06-13

Startrans Recalls 2011 Senator Buses Due to Roof Hatch Exit Issue

Startrans is recalling one 2011 Senator bus because a roof hatch may be difficult to open in an emergency, potentially hindering egress.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product where injury has not yet been reported, specifically a defect that may hinder emergency egress and result in injury.

Plain-English summary

Startrans Bus Corporation is recalling one model year 2011 Senator commercial bus equipped with a Specialty Manufacturing Inc. (SMI) Prolo roof hatch. The recall addresses increased friction between the rear plate assembly and the nylon rear pop-up support. This friction may cause the opening force of the roof hatch to exceed federal standard requirements, meaning the hatch fails to conform to Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 217 regarding bus emergency exits.

In the event of an emergency, the difficulty in opening the hatch may hinder the egress of the bus, possibly resulting in injury to the vehicle occupants. The safety campaign began in June 2012.

Startrans will notify the owner, and a service kit will be provided by SMI along with repair instructions to the dealer or owner free of charge. Owners may contact Startrans at 1-574-642-0811 or SMI at 1-800-951-7867. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
STARTRANS SENATOR
Brand
STARTRANS
Manufacturer
STARTRANS BUS CORPORATION
Category
Vehicle — Commercial Bus
Hazard
Affected units
1

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • SENATOR

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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