Recall 12V205 covers 27 2009-2013 Volvo Bus 9700 motor coaches with too few emergency exit windows. Repair is free at any franchised Volvo Bus dealer.
Volvo Bus recall 12V205 covers 27 2009-2013 9700 motor coaches because some coaches were built with too few emergency exit windows for the federal bus exit standard. In an emergency, limited exits can delay passengers leaving the coach and increase the risk of personal injury; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The emergency exit windows on a 2009-2013 Volvo Bus 9700 motor coach are part of the passenger evacuation system. They are supposed to give riders marked, releasable openings to leave the coach when the main door is not the right exit path. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 217 sets the required emergency exit and window release rules for this type of bus.
On affected coaches, the problem is not a broken latch or glass defect. The coach was built with an insufficient quantity of emergency exit windows for the safety standard. That means the evacuation layout does not meet the required exit capacity, even if the windows that are present still open and release as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is the number of compliant emergency exit windows on the coach, not a part that changes how the Volvo Bus 9700 starts, steers, brakes, or drives.
Who's affected?
The scope spans 2009-2013 model-year 9700 buses, all tied to the visibility component.
| 2012 Volvo Bus 9700 | visibility component |
|---|---|
| 2013 Volvo Bus 9700 | visibility component |
| 2009 Volvo Bus 9700 | visibility component |
| 2010 Volvo Bus 9700 | visibility component |
| 2011 Volvo Bus 9700 | visibility component |
| Units affected | 27 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
In an emergency, limited emergency exit windows can delay passengers as they try to leave the vehicle, increasing the risk of personal injury. Keep aisles and exits clear, and ask the dealer about the added emergency exit window for your VIN. Repair will be free at any franchised Volvo Bus dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2013 Volvo Bus 9700 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Volvo Bus dealer to ask about the free emergency-exit-window installation.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and reference recall number 12V205 when you call.
- Call Volvo Bus customer service at 1-866-870-2046 with questions about parts, scheduling, or dealer routing.
- Limit passenger service until the dealer completes the added emergency-exit-window repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Volvo Bus technician installs an additional emergency exit window so the 9700 motor coach has the emergency exit capacity required by the recall. The remedy text lists the installation as free of charge. Because the remedy status is not marked available in this source, treat the final dealer repair as free once available and confirm the repair process with the dealer before planning the visit.
Timeline
| May 8, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 26, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V205?
Recall 12V205 covers 27 2009-2013 Volvo Bus 9700 motor coaches with too few emergency exit windows under federal bus emergency-exit requirements. In an emergency, passengers can be delayed while exiting, increasing injury risk. Dealers install an additional emergency exit window for free.
What should I do if my 2009-2013 Volvo Bus 9700 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific motor coach is included in recall 12V205. If it is, contact a franchised Volvo Bus dealer and ask to schedule the additional emergency exit window installation. Reference recall number 12V205 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the recall remedy installs an additional emergency exit window free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at the dealer for vehicles included in recall 12V205.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is delayed passenger evacuation during an emergency. Recall 12V205 says the limited number of emergency exit windows increases the risk of personal injury because passengers have fewer exit points from the motor coach.
When did the Volvo Bus 9700 recall repair start?
The safety recall began on September 27, 2012. The source record also says interim owner notification was completed by mid-July 2012. If your VIN is included and the repair was never completed, call a franchised Volvo Bus dealer with recall number 12V205.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V205000 |
|---|---|
| Volvo Bus customer service | 1-866-870-2046 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V205 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V205000 |
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 →