Recall 12V294 affects 158 2011-2012 Ic Bus Ce school buses for body-joint screws needing retightening. Repair is free at any franchised Ic Bus dealer.
Ic Bus is recalling 158 2011-2012 Ce school buses because the interior lower lining does not meet the federal school bus body joint strength standard. In a crash, that defect increases the risk of injury to occupants, and the dealer repair will be free once Ic Bus makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The interior lower lining on a 2011-2012 Ic Bus Ce school bus is part of the bus body structure inside the passenger area. It helps cover and tie together body panels where sections of the bus shell meet. Those body joints are designed to stay attached so the passenger compartment keeps its intended shape and protection during a crash.
On the recalled buses, the interior lower lining does not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 221 for school bus body joint strength. That means the joint strength at that lining is below the required school bus standard. The recall record does not identify a separate driver-caused problem or maintenance issue; the concern is the way the body structure was built.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner, driver, or fleet mechanic would not be expected to hear, feel, or see a clear signal from normal operation that this body joint strength issue is present.
Who's affected?
The scope spans the 2011 and 2012 model years, both tied to the body structure component.
| 2011 Ic Bus Ce | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2012 Ic Bus Ce | body structure |
| Units affected | 158 |
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?
If this joint is not tightened to specification, occupants face a higher risk of personal injury in a crash. Schedule the inspection and screw retightening promptly, and use normal caution until the dealer checks the vehicle. Repair will be free at any franchised Ic Bus dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2012 Ic Bus Ce is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer and ask whether the body-joint screw inspection and retightening is open for your VIN.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 12V294 when you call.
- Ask the dealer to inspect and retighten the lower-lining joint screws so the school bus body joints meet the required strength specification.
- Call Ic Bus customer service at 1-260-461-1890 with questions about the recall.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Ic Bus technician inspects the interior lower lining body joints and retightens the joint screws to the proper specification. That is the repair described for this recall. Parts and labor are covered, and the dealer repair will be free once available. If the bus is already at a service facility, ask the service desk to confirm the recall campaign and document the inspection and retightening work on the repair order.
Timeline
| June 22, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 23, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V294?
Recall 12V294 covers 158 2011-2012 Ic Bus Ce school buses with interior lower lining body joints that do not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 221 for school bus body joint strength. Dealers inspect and retighten the joint screws for free.
What should I do if my 2011-2012 Ic Bus Ce is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 12V294. If it is, contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer and ask for the body joint screw inspection and retightening. Reference recall number 12V294 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Ic Bus dealers inspect and retighten the affected body joint screws free of charge. The recall repair began on July 23, 2012.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is higher injury risk for occupants in a crash. The recall involves school bus body joint strength, so the repair path is to have the dealer inspect the affected joints and retighten the screws to the proper specification.
What if I bought this Ic Bus Ce used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether this specific bus is included, then call a franchised Ic Bus dealer with recall number 12V294.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V294000 |
|---|---|
| Ic Bus customer service | 1-260-461-1890 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V294 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V294000 |
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 →