Recall 13V397 covers 70 2013-2014 Ic Bus Recb and Casb school buses for weak restraining barrier welds. Free repair at any franchised Ic Bus dealer.
Ic Bus is recalling 70 2013-2014 Recb and Casb school buses under recall 13V397 because the recall concerns insufficient welds at the base of the restraining barrier frame. In a crash or sudden driving maneuver, the barriers can fail to hold occupants back and increase injury risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The restraining barrier in a 2013-2014 Ic Bus Recb or Casb school bus is the padded frame installed near passenger seating. Its job is to help keep students within the protected seating area during a crash or hard stop, as required by FMVSS No. 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection." The barrier depends on its frame and welds staying attached to the bus structure.
On affected school buses, the weld at the base of the barrier frame is not strong enough. That weak weld means the barrier does not meet the required school bus crash protection standard. In a crash or hard stop, the barrier is designed to take force through its frame, but the base weld is the weak point in this recall.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or driver is not given a light, sound, or visible change that confirms the weld problem during normal use.
Who's affected?
Covers Recb and Casb buses across the 2013 and 2014 model years, with the same seat assembly component listed for each scope.
| 2013 Ic Bus Recb | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2013 Ic Bus Casb | seat assembly |
| 2014 Ic Bus Casb | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 70 |
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 the barrier frame fails in a crash or sudden maneuver, occupants can be thrown forward instead of being restrained, increasing injury risk. Drive cautiously and arrange recall service as soon as the dealer can complete it. Repair will be free at any franchised Ic Bus dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013-2014 Ic Bus Recb or Casb school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer to ask whether the free barrier-frame replacement is open for your VIN.
- Schedule the barrier-frame replacement that fixes the insufficient weld at the base of the restraining barrier.
- Bring the recall notice if Navistar mailed one. If not, reference recall number 13V397 when you call.
- Call Ic Bus customer service at 1-331-332-1590 with questions about this recall.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Ic Bus technician replaces the affected restraining barrier frames in the school bus passenger area. The issue is at the base of the barrier frame, so the repair focuses on the barrier structure rather than the seating rows around it. The dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. Ask the service desk to confirm the bus is included before bringing it in for repair.
Timeline
| September 3, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 10, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V397?
Recall 13V397 covers 70 2013-2014 Ic Bus Recb and Casb school buses with restraining barrier frames that have insufficient welds at the base. In a crash or sudden maneuver, the barriers can fail to restrain occupants from moving forward, increasing injury risk.
What should I do if my 2013-2014 Ic Bus Recb or Casb is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 13V397. If it is, contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer to schedule replacement of the affected barrier frames. Reference recall 13V397 or Navistar recall number 13513 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Navistar said dealers will replace the affected barrier frames. Parts and labor are covered through a franchised Ic Bus dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is occupant injury during a crash or sudden driving maneuver. Under recall 13V397, the restraining barriers have insufficient welds at the base, so they can fail to keep occupants from moving forward when the bus stops hard or crashes.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V397000 |
|---|---|
| Ic Bus customer service | 1-331-332-1590 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V397 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V397000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (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 →