Recall 12V340 covers 1,429 2012 Collins, Corbeil, and Mid-Bus De, Sl, Dh, and Sh buses for emergency-egress-window defects. Repair is free at franchised Collins dealers.
Collins is recalling 1,429 2012 Collins, Corbeil, and Mid-Bus De, Sl, Dh, and Sh school and multi-function school activity buses because emergency egress windows have retainer, latch rod, or fastener defects. In a crash, occupants can be unable to exit, and the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The split sash emergency egress window on a 2012 Collins De, Sl, Dh, or Sh bus is a side window built to serve as an emergency exit. In normal use, the window stays retained in the body while the bus is moving, then releases when the emergency exit hardware is operated. That release and retention function is the point of the bus emergency exit standard.
On affected buses, the Spectal split sash window hardware was not assembled strongly or securely enough. The retainer bar was installed incorrectly, the latch connecting rod lacked enough strength, or the window fasteners were missing or failed. Any of those faults leave the emergency window unable to perform its release and retention job as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver, aide, or owner is not given a clear in-use symptom that the emergency window hardware is out of position, weak, or missing fasteners.
Who's affected?
Scope spans Collins, Corbeil, and Mid-Bus bus nameplates across the De, Sl, Dh, and Sh models.
| 2012 Collins De | visibility component |
|---|---|
| 2012 Corbeil Sl | visibility component |
| 2012 Corbeil De | visibility component |
| 2012 Collins Dh | visibility component |
| 2012 Corbeil Dh | visibility component |
| 2012 Collins Sl | visibility component |
| 2012 Corbeil Sh | visibility component |
| 2012 Mid-Bus Sh | visibility component |
| 2012 Mid-Bus Dh | visibility component |
| 2012 Mid-Bus Sl | visibility component |
| 2012 Collins Sh | visibility component |
| 2012 Mid-Bus De | visibility component |
| Units affected | 1,429 |
A matching 2012 bus model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash, exit windows that are not secured correctly can keep occupants from leaving the bus and can also injure passengers or people outside the bus if a window comes loose. Have the window retaining bars inspected and repaired through the recall path. Repair will be free at any franchised Collins dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012 Collins De, Sl, Dh, or Sh bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Collins dealer and ask whether the free emergency-egress-window repair is open for your bus.
- Schedule the window repair that fixes the retainer bar, latch connecting rod, or missing fasteners so the emergency exit window stays secured and opens as required.
- Bring the recall notice if Collins mailed one. If not, reference recall number 12V340 when you call.
- Call Collins at 1-800-533-1850 with owner questions before scheduling service.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Collins technician repairs the Spectal split sash emergency egress windows on the affected school buses. The work centers on the window hardware named in the recall: the retainer bar, the egress window latch connecting rod, and the window fasteners. The record does not list a current remedy status, so confirm repair availability with the Collins dealer before arranging service. The dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall.
Timeline
| July 19, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 20, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V340?
Recall 12V340 covers 1,429 2012 Collins De, Sl, Dh, and Sh buses with split sash emergency egress windows that fail the federal bus emergency exit standard. The windows have retainer bar, latch rod, or fastener problems. Collins dealers repair the buses for free.
What should I do if my 2012 Collins De, Sl, Dh, or Sh bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in recall 12V340. If it is, contact a franchised Collins dealer and ask for the free emergency egress window repair. Reference recall number 12V340 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Collins says dealers repair the affected buses free of charge. The recall repair covers the split sash emergency egress window issue described in campaign 12V340.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is blocked or unsecured emergency egress windows during a crash. Occupants can have trouble exiting the bus, increasing injury risk. If all fasteners on a retaining bar fail, the window can also separate from the bus and injure passengers or people outside.
What if I bought this bus used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the current owner or purchase history. Check your VIN, then give recall number 12V340 to the Collins dealer so the service desk can confirm the open repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V340000 |
|---|---|
| Collins customer service | 1-800-533-1850 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V340 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V340000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (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 →