Recall 16V085 covers 50 2012-2015 Trans Tech Bus Student Safety Transport school buses for a driver-side barrier defect. The retrofit kit is free.
Trans Tech Bus is recalling 50 2012-2015 Student Safety Transport school buses because the driver's side barrier did not meet federal school bus crash protection requirements. If that barrier does not deform correctly in a crash, occupants face a greater injury risk, and the dealer repair will be free once Trans Tech Bus makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The driver's-side barrier in a 2012-2015 Trans Tech Bus Student Safety Transport school bus is the padded partition near the driver area. In a crash, that barrier is supposed to bend in a controlled way so crash forces are managed inside the passenger compartment. This bus is built on a Chevrolet cutaway chassis and was designed to carry up to 30 passengers.
On affected buses, the barrier was installed where its edge contacts the vehicle's B-pillar, the vertical body post beside the driver area. During forward deflection testing, that contact pinned one edge of the barrier instead of letting the barrier deform evenly. The test force then shifted to the unpinned edge, and the barrier bent outside the shape allowed by the federal school bus crash-protection standard.
There is no warning sign that confirms the barrier is defective before a crash. A driver or operator is not expected to feel, hear, or see this problem during normal use.
Who's affected?
Spans four model years for the same Student Safety Transport bus configuration, all tied to the seat assembly component.
| 2015 Trans Tech Bus Student Safety Transport | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2012 Trans Tech Bus Student Safety Transport | seat assembly |
| 2014 Trans Tech Bus Student Safety Transport | seat assembly |
| 2013 Trans Tech Bus Student Safety Transport | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 50 |
| 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?
A barrier that does not deform properly raises the injury risk for occupants who hit it during a crash. There is no conclusive warning sign that shows the barrier is defective, so owners should arrange the retrofit when it is available. Repair will be free at any franchised Trans Tech Bus dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2015 Trans Tech Bus Student Safety Transport is included in this recall.
- Call Trans Tech Bus customer service at 1-845-988-0419 to confirm the retrofit-kit status for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 16V085 when you call or speak with your service provider.
- Schedule the free driver-side barrier retrofit once Trans Tech Bus confirms instructions for your bus; the repair addresses the barrier that does not deform as intended in a crash.
- Keep the recall notice with the bus records and bring it to the repair appointment.
What happens at the repair
The listed remedy is a free retrofit kit with installation instructions from Trans Tech Bus. Because the remedy is marked under development, treat the final service path as not open until Trans Tech Bus confirms kit availability and installation handling. Once it opens, a Trans Tech Bus technician or authorized service location will install the retrofit kit according to the manufacturer's instructions, and the recall work will be free. Trans Tech Bus has a general reimbursement plan on file, so owners who already paid for a related repair should ask how to submit documented expenses under the manufacturer's standard reimbursement plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| February 12, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 26, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| February 26, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 1, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 18, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V085?
Recall 16V085 covers 50 2012-2015 Trans Tech Bus Student Safety Transport school buses with a driver-side barrier that does not deform as intended in a crash. The vehicles fail to comply with FMVSS 222, School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection. Trans Tech Bus provides a free retrofit kit and installation instructions.
What should I do if my 2012-2015 Trans Tech Bus Student Safety Transport is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm the bus is included in recall 16V085. If it is, contact Trans Tech Bus customer service at 1-845-988-0419 and reference recall 16V085. Ask for the free retrofit kit, installation instructions, and the correct service path for your bus.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the safety recall remedy at no cost, and Trans Tech Bus provides the retrofit kit and installation instructions free of charge. Keep the recall number, VIN, and any service paperwork together for the repair file.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is higher injury risk in a crash. If the driver-side barrier does not deform properly, occupants face greater risk of injury if they hit the barrier during the crash. The remedy is the free retrofit kit and installation process from Trans Tech Bus.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V085000 |
|---|---|
| Trans Tech Bus customer service | 1-845-988-0419 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V085 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V085000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 →