Recall 12V090 affects 11 2011-2012 Trans Tech Sst school buses for shoulder-belt anchorage defects. Repair is free at an authorized repair facility.
Trans Tech is recalling 11 2011-2012 Sst school buses built on Ford E350 and E450 Econoline chassis because fiberglass around the upper torso belt mounting point did not meet specifications. In a crash, the shoulder restraint can detach from the B-pillar anchorage and raise the risk of occupant injury; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The front seat belt anchorage on 2011-2012 Trans Tech Sst school buses is the fixed mounting structure that holds the shoulder belt to the bus body. Its job is to keep the belt attached at the upper torso point when a seated occupant is restrained. That anchor depends on the surrounding fiberglass and its fasteners meeting the required design strength and torque.
On affected buses, the installed fiberglass did not meet Trans Tech's design specifications. Because of that, the upper torso mounting point did not receive the required torque value for the seat belt anchor. A belt that is not anchored as specified does not comply with the federal seat belt anchorage standard, which is the safety standard for how strongly the belt must stay attached.
There is no warning sign before failure. The anchor issue is hidden behind the trim and mounting hardware, so an owner or driver should not expect a noise, light, or visible change before the defect is found during inspection.
Who's affected?
The scope spans the 2011 and 2012 model years for the same seat belt anchorage component.
| 2012 Trans Tech Sst | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2011 Trans Tech Sst | seat belt |
| Units affected | 11 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash, the shoulder restraint can detach from the B-pillar anchorage and increase the occupant's injury risk. If your VIN is included, schedule recall service promptly and ask the repair facility what to expect before the bus returns to service. Repair will be free at any franchised Trans Tech dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2012 Trans Tech Sst is included in this recall.
- Review the owner instructions Trans Tech mailed for this recall before arranging service.
- Contact Trans Tech at 1-845-988-0419 to request the free repair kit or an authorized repair facility for the shoulder-restraint anchorage repair.
- Reference recall number 12V090 when you call or when the bus goes in for repair.
- Avoid using the affected seating position until the B-pillar shoulder-restraint anchorage repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
TCI's notice says owners receive repair instructions and repair kits, or the bus can be taken to an authorized repair facility at no cost. At the facility, a Trans Tech technician uses the recall kit to correct the upper torso seat belt anchorage mounting points so they meet the required design specification. The dealer repair will be free once available. The recall began on March 15, 2012, so ask the service desk to confirm kit availability for recall 12V090 before bringing the bus in.
Timeline
| March 6, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 15, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V090?
Recall 12V090 covers 11 2011-2012 Trans Tech Sst school buses with front seat belt anchorage hardware that does not meet federal strength requirements. In a crash, the shoulder restraint can detach from the B-pillar anchorage and increase injury risk.
What should I do if my 2011-2012 Trans Tech Sst is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 12V090. If it is, contact Trans Tech at 1-845-988-0419 or an authorized repair facility for the repair kit and installation instructions. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to correct the defect at no cost, and Trans Tech's remedy provides repair kits or repair through an authorized facility at no cost to the owner.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is seat belt anchorage failure during a crash. If the shoulder restraint detaches from the B-pillar anchorage, the occupant loses part of the restraint protection and faces a higher risk of personal injury.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V090000 |
|---|---|
| Trans Tech customer service | 1-845-988-0419 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V090 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V090000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →