Recall 12V285 covers 3,491 2012-2013 Ic Bus school buses with roof hatches requiring excessive opening force. Free repair at any franchised Ic Bus dealer.
Ic Bus recalled 3,491 2012-2013 Ce, Re, Be, Casb, and Recb school buses under recall 12V285 because Prolo roof escape hatches can require too much force to open. In an emergency, that slows exit from the bus and raises injury risk for occupants; the Ic Bus dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The roof escape hatch on affected 2012-2013 Ic Bus Casb, Recb, Re, Ce, and Be school buses is an emergency exit built into the bus roof. In normal use, the hatch stays closed during service and opens when occupants or responders need another way out. The release system has to open with force low enough for the federal bus emergency-exit standard.
On buses equipped with Prolo roof escape hatches, the rear plate assembly can rub too hard against the nylon rear pop-up support. That extra friction raises the force needed to open the hatch. When the opening force exceeds the standard, the hatch does not work as an emergency exit in the way it was certified to work.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is about the force needed to open the roof hatch, so an owner or driver is unlikely to notice it during normal driving unless the hatch is tested.
Who's affected?
Covers five Ic Bus model lines from the 2012 and 2013 model years, all tied to the same body structure component.
| 2013 Ic Bus Casb | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2013 Ic Bus Recb | body structure |
| 2012 Ic Bus Re | body structure |
| 2012 Ic Bus Ce | body structure |
| 2012 Ic Bus Be | body structure |
| 2013 Ic Bus Be | body structure |
| Units affected | 3,491 |
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 NHTSA campaign 12V285, hindered emergency egress can delay occupants leaving the bus and increase injury risk. Keep emergency exits clear and schedule the recall repair promptly so the bus can be corrected before an emergency exit is needed. Repair will be free at any franchised Ic Bus dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2013 Ic Bus Casb, Recb, Re, Ce, or Be school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer and ask for the free Prolo roof escape hatch service kit and repair instructions.
- Reference recall number 12V285 when you call, so the dealer can match the bus to the correct roof-hatch repair.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and ask the dealer to confirm the repair lowers the roof escape hatch opening force.
- Keep the roof escape hatch area clear until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
The remedy record identifies service kits and repair instructions from Specialty Manufacturing for the Prolo roof escape hatch hardware. Once the dealer repair is available, an Ic Bus technician will use that kit to correct the rear plate assemblies and nylon rear pop-up supports that create too much friction when the hatch opens. The dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under recall 12V285.
Timeline
| June 21, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 3, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V285?
Recall 12V285 covers 3,491 2012-2013 Ic Bus Casb, Recb, Re, Ce, and Be school buses with Prolo roof escape hatches. Extra friction in the hatch support assembly can make emergency exit through the roof harder and increase injury risk. Specialty Manufacturing provides the service kit and repair instructions free of charge.
What should I do if my 2012-2013 Ic Bus Casb, Recb, Re, Ce, or Be is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 12V285. If it is, contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer and reference recall 12V285. Ask the service desk about the Prolo roof hatch service kit and repair instructions. The recall repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost, and the recall remedy says Specialty Manufacturing provides the service kits and repair instructions free of charge. A franchised Ic Bus dealer can handle the recall path for an included bus.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a harder-to-open roof escape hatch during an emergency. The recalled Prolo hatch can exceed the federal opening-force requirement, which can hinder people leaving the bus and increase injury risk to occupants. The free repair addresses the hatch hardware and instructions.
What if I bought this Ic Bus school bus used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether this 2012-2013 Ic Bus is included, then contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer and reference recall 12V285 when you schedule service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V285000 |
|---|---|
| Ic Bus customer service | 1-260-461-1890 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V285 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V285000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - 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 →