Recall 16V016 affects 317 2015-2016 Starcraft Bus Quest and Xl school buses for peeling stop-arm decals. Repair is free at any franchised Starcraft Bus dealer.
Starcraft Bus is recalling 317 2015-2016 Quest and Xl school buses because reflective decals on certain Transpec stop arms can peel loose. The defect leaves the stop arms less visible to other drivers and raises the risk of a crash; Starcraft Bus dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The school bus stop arm on 2015-2016 Starcraft Bus Quest and Xl buses is the side-mounted arm that opens when the bus stops for students. Its reflective STOP decal is supposed to stay bonded to the plastic blade so approaching drivers can see the stop signal clearly. This part is part of the pedestrian-safety equipment covered by FMVSS 131.
On the recalled buses, certain Transpec T6000, T6100, and T7000 stop arms were built with STOP decals that do not stay adhered to the plastic blade. The issue traces to a process deficiency in how the decals were applied. Once the decal starts to loosen, the reflective surface can peel away from the arm instead of staying flat and visible.
A driver or maintenance worker can look for the STOP decal lifting, curling, or peeling from the stop arm. That peeling is the warning sign before the stop arm no longer displays the reflective STOP message as intended.
Who's affected?
Covers Quest and Xl buses from the 2015 and 2016 model years, all tied to the same school bus stop arm assembly.
| 2016 Starcraft Bus Quest | School bus stop arm assembly |
|---|---|
| 2015 Starcraft Bus Quest | School bus stop arm assembly |
| 2016 Starcraft Bus Xl | School bus stop arm assembly |
| 2015 Starcraft Bus Xl | School bus stop arm assembly |
| Units affected | 317 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
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?
Missing reflective decals make stop arms harder for other drivers to see, increasing crash risk. If a STOP decal is peeling from the plastic blade, treat the bus as needing recall service and schedule the blade assembly replacement soon. Repair is free at any franchised Starcraft Bus dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2016 Starcraft Bus Quest or Xl is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Starcraft Bus dealer to schedule the free stop-arm blade assembly replacement that fixes the peeling reflective decal.
- Bring the recall notice if one was mailed. If not, reference recall number 16V016 when you call.
- Avoid using the bus for school-bus service until the stop arm repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Starcraft Bus technician replaces the stop arm blade assembly, including the stop arm blade with the peeling reflective decal issue identified in the recall. The replacement parts and labor are free under the recall. Forest River has a general reimbursement plan on file, so documented out-of-pocket costs for the same stop arm repair before the recall notice can be submitted through that plan. Keep repair paperwork and ask the service desk how to file the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 19, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 4, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| March 10, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| March 10, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| March 10, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V016?
Recall 16V016 covers 317 2015-2016 Starcraft Bus Quest and Xl school buses with stop arm reflective decals that can peel loose. Without the decal, the stop arm has reduced visibility to other drivers, increasing crash risk. Starcraft Bus dealers will replace the stop arm blade assembly for free.
What should I do if my 2015-2016 Starcraft Bus Quest or Xl is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 16V016. If it is, contact a franchised Starcraft Bus dealer to schedule the stop arm blade assembly replacement. Reference recall number 16V016 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 the remedy for recall 16V016 is a free stop arm blade assembly replacement at a franchised Starcraft Bus dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced stop arm visibility. If the reflective decal peels away, drivers around the school bus have less visual warning from the stop arm, increasing crash risk. The dealer repair replaces the stop arm blade assembly for free.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall repair began on February 4, 2016. Starcraft Bus owners with an included VIN can contact a franchised dealer for the free stop arm blade assembly replacement. Owners can also call Starcraft Bus customer service at 1-800-348-7440 and reference recall 16V016.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V016000 |
|---|---|
| Starcraft Bus customer service | 1-800-348-7440 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V016 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V016000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →