Recall 12V362 affects 11 2011-2012 Micro Bird G5 School Bus vehicles for roof hatches that require too much opening force. Service kits are free.
Micro Bird is recalling 11 2011-2012 G5 School Bus vehicles because ProLo roof escape hatches can require more opening force than federal rules allow. In an emergency, that can slow evacuation and raise injury risk for occupants; the Micro Bird dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The roof escape hatch on a 2011-2012 Micro Bird G5 School Bus is an emergency exit built into the bus roof. In normal use, the hatch releases and opens with a controlled amount of hand force so passengers and responders have another way out when side doors or windows are not the right path.
On affected buses, the ProLo roof hatch has too much friction between the rear plate assemblies and the nylon rear pop-up support. That extra friction makes the hatch harder to push open than the federal emergency-exit standard allows. The issue is in the hatch release and support hardware, not in the roof panel itself.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or attendant is unlikely to notice the problem during normal driving, because the defect shows up when someone tries to open the roof hatch as an emergency exit or during an inspection.
Who's affected?
Spans 2 model years for the G5 School Bus, with the same body-structure component listed for both years.
| 2012 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2011 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | body structure |
| Units affected | 11 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
In an emergency, hindered bus egress can slow evacuation and result in injury to occupants. Until the recall work is complete, confirm exits open before putting the bus in service and schedule the repair promptly. Repair will be free at any franchised Micro Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2012 Micro Bird G5 School Bus is included in this recall.
- Use the owner notice mailed starting July 31, 2012, or call Micro Bird to confirm the free ProLo roof escape hatch service kit and repair instructions.
- Reference recall number 12V362 when you contact Micro Bird or the servicing dealer.
- Keep the roof escape hatches clear and report any hard-to-open hatch before the repair is completed.
- Bring the recall notice to the repair visit so the dealer can match the bus to the correct ProLo roof hatch kit.
What happens at the repair
Once the repair is available, a Micro Bird technician uses the Specialty Manufacturing service kit and repair instructions to correct the ProLo roof escape hatch hardware. The work addresses friction between the rear plate assemblies and the nylon rear pop-up support, so the hatch can meet the required emergency-exit release standard. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with the service kit and instructions provided at no charge.
Timeline
| July 25, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 31, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V362?
Recall 12V362 covers 11 2011-2012 Micro Bird G5 School Bus vehicles with ProLo roof escape hatches that take too much force to open. In an emergency, that can slow evacuation and increase injury risk. Service kits and repair instructions are provided free of charge.
What should I do if my 2011-2012 Micro Bird G5 School Bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 12V362. If it is, contact a franchised Micro Bird dealer and ask for the ProLo roof escape hatch repair kit and instructions. Reference recall number 12V362 when you call.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and the Micro Bird remedy provides the service kit and repair instructions free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for buses included in recall 12V362.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is delayed emergency exit through the roof hatch. The affected ProLo hatch has too much friction between rear support parts, so opening force exceeds the federal bus emergency-exit standard. In an emergency, that can hinder occupant evacuation and increase injury risk.
What if I bought this Micro Bird G5 School Bus used?
The free recall repair still applies. Federal recall law follows the vehicle, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific G5 School Bus is included, then reference recall number 12V362 when you contact a Micro Bird dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V362000 |
|---|---|
| Micro Bird customer service | 1-819-477-2012 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V362 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V362000 |
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 →