Recall 15V384 covers 46 2012-2015 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport school buses with rear axle overload risk. Dealers remove two seats and relabel capacity free.
Trans Tech recalled 46 2012-2015 Student Safety Transport school buses because the listed passenger capacity can overload the rear axle and tires when the bus is full. That overload can lead to rear axle or tire failure and increase crash risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The rear axle and rear tires on a 2012-2015 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport school bus carry the weight at the back of the bus. The axle supports the body, seats, passengers, and cargo, while the tires keep that load within their rated weight limits. Those ratings matter when the bus is loaded to its stated capacity of 35 children or 23 adults.
On affected buses, the floor design changed after the seating plan had already been approved. The newer, more rigid floor added several hundred pounds that were not included in the original weight analysis. With the original seat layout and a full passenger load, the rear axle and tires are loaded beyond their rated capacity.
An owner or driver should not expect a clear symptom first. There is no warning sign before failure, and the recall repair changes the seating layout and label so the bus is no longer rated for the overloaded floor plan.
Who's affected?
One bus model spans four model years, with the drive axle listed for each year.
| 2015 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport | drive axle |
|---|---|
| 2012 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport | drive axle |
| 2013 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport | drive axle |
| 2014 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport | drive axle |
| Units affected | 46 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
At listed capacity, the rear axle or tires can fail and increase the risk of a crash. There is no warning sign before failure, so avoid carrying a full load until the recall work is complete. Repair will be free at any franchised Trans Tech dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2015 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport is included in this recall.
- Call Trans Tech customer service at 1-845-988-0419 before scheduling service, since the remedy status is not listed as available in this record.
- Ask how to arrange the free seat removal and corrected capacity label, which lowers listed capacity so the rear axle and tires are not overloaded.
- Bring the owner notice if Trans Tech mailed one. If not, reference recall number 15V384 when you call.
- Avoid loading the bus to the listed 35-child or 23-adult capacity until Trans Tech confirms the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
The final dealer repair will be free once Trans Tech makes it available. The known repair is straightforward: a Trans Tech technician removes two seats so the bus no longer carries more passengers than the rear axle and tires are rated to support, then installs a corrected capacity label. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Until the repair opens, use the VIN check and the recall notice to confirm whether this specific 2012-2015 Student Safety Transport bus is included before planning service.
Timeline
| June 10, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| June 10, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| June 17, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
| June 17, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 1, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V384?
Recall 15V384 covers 46 2012-2015 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport school buses built for 35 children or 23 adults. Referenced from NHTSA campaign 15V384, the rear axle and tires can be overloaded at listed capacity, increasing crash risk. Dealers remove two seats and install a corrected capacity label for free.
What should I do if my 2012-2015 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 15V384. If it is, contact a franchised Trans Tech dealer or TCI customer service at 1-845-988-0419 and ask for the seat-removal and capacity-label remedy. The recall repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the recalled defect at no cost. For recall 15V384, dealers remove two seats and install a corrected capacity label free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is rear-axle or tire failure when the bus is loaded to the listed capacity. Referenced from NHTSA campaign 15V384, that overload condition increases crash risk. Until the remedy is complete, do not load the bus to the old listed capacity.
When did the recall repair start?
TCI said the recall began on July 1, 2015. For a bus still in service, check your VIN and contact a franchised Trans Tech dealer or TCI customer service at 1-845-988-0419 to confirm the remedy status for that specific vehicle.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V384000 |
|---|---|
| Trans Tech customer service | 1-845-988-0419 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V384 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V384000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 1, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →