Recall 12V262 affects 11 2012 Blue Bird All American and Vision buses for roof hatches with excessive opening force. Free Blue Bird dealer repair.
Blue Bird is recalling 11 2012 All American and Vision non-school buses because Prolo roof hatches can require too much opening force during an emergency exit. That failure can slow evacuation and raise injury risk for occupants; the Blue Bird dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The Prolo roof hatch on 2012 Blue Bird All American and Vision non school buses is part of the bus emergency exit system. It is supposed to open with a controlled amount of force so occupants and emergency personnel can use the roof exit when needed. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 217 sets requirements for that emergency exit release force.
On these buses, the rear plate assemblies rub too tightly against the nylon rear support in the hatch mechanism. That extra friction makes the Prolo roof hatch harder to open than the federal standard allows. The issue is mechanical friction inside the hatch hardware, not a problem with the roof structure itself.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner, driver, or fleet operator would not be expected to see a dashboard alert or other advance notice tied to this roof hatch problem before the hatch becomes harder to open.
Who's affected?
Includes the All American and Vision bus lines from the same model year, both tied to the body structure.
| 2012 Blue Bird All American | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2012 Blue Bird Vision | body structure |
| Units affected | 11 |
Not every 2012 Blue Bird All American or Vision bus is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
If an emergency requires evacuation, hindered bus egress can keep occupants inside longer and increase the risk of injury. Schedule the recall repair soon so exits work as intended during an evacuation. Repair will be free at any franchised Blue Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012 Blue Bird All American or Vision is included in this recall.
- Contact Blue Bird customer service or a franchised Blue Bird dealer to confirm the current roof-hatch service path.
- Schedule the Prolo roof-hatch service kit that lowers the opening force so the emergency exit can release as required.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 12V262 when you call.
- Keep the bus out of passenger service until Blue Bird confirms the roof-hatch repair path for your VIN.
What happens at the repair
Blue Bird's filing does not list a current remedy status. The stated repair path is a free SMI service kit with repair instructions for Blue Bird dealers and owners. Once the repair is available for a specific VIN, a Blue Bird technician uses that kit to correct the ProLo roof hatch hardware so the emergency exit opening force meets the federal standard. Parts, instructions, and labor are covered under the recall.
Timeline
| June 8, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 21, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V262?
Recall 12V262 covers 11 2012 Blue Bird All American and Vision non-school buses equipped with SMI Prolo roof hatches. The hatch hardware has too much opening friction and does not meet the federal bus emergency-exit standard. Blue Bird dealers and owners receive the repair kit and instructions free of charge.
What should I do if my 2012 Blue Bird All American or Vision is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in recall 12V262. If it is, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer and reference recall 12V262. The repair kit and instructions are provided free of charge.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to correct the safety defect at no cost. For recall 12V262, SMI provides the service kit and repair instructions to Blue Bird dealers and owners free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is delayed exit through the roof hatch during an emergency. Increased friction in the Prolo roof hatch can make the hatch harder to open than the federal bus emergency-exit standard allows, which increases injury risk for vehicle occupants.
When did the recall repair begin?
The safety recall began on June 21, 2012. If your 2012 Blue Bird All American or Vision bus is included and the hatch repair was never completed, contact a franchised Blue Bird dealer and reference recall 12V262.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V262000 |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird customer service | 1-478-822-2242 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V262 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V262000 |
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 →