Recall 16V226 covers 2 2016 Startrans Senator Ii buses with seats that can separate in a crash. Free repair once available.
Startrans is recalling 2 2016 Startrans Senator Ii transit buses because seat bolts can fail and let a seat separate from its base frame. That separation raises injury risk for the occupant in a crash, and the dealer repair will be free once Startrans makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The passenger seats in the 2016 Startrans Senator Ii buses are bolted to a base frame that anchors each seat to the vehicle structure. Those bolts are the mechanical fasteners that keep the seat fixed in place during normal driving, braking, and passenger movement. When they hold as designed, the seat stays attached to its frame.
On affected buses, the problem is the strength of the fasteners used in the seat assemblies. Freedman Seating identified defective hex head cap screws in a shipment used for these seats. Because the screws have reduced strength, the bolts can fail and let the seat separate from the base frame instead of staying secured.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or operator should not expect a noise, looseness, or visible change before a seat attachment fails.
Who's affected?
| 2016 Startrans Senator Ii | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 2 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2016 Startrans Senator Ii bus is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash, the seat can separate from the base frame, increasing injury risk for the person sitting there. There is no listed warning sign before a crash, so confirm whether your VIN is included and contact a franchised Startrans dealer for guidance. Repair will be free at any franchised Startrans dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016 Startrans Senator Ii is included in this recall.
- Wait for Startrans repair instructions before scheduling the free seat replacement.
- Contact a franchised Startrans dealer to ask when the seat replacement that fixes seats separating from the base frame is open for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 16V226 when you call, and bring the owner notice if Startrans mailed one.
- Use extra caution with occupied seats until the repair is complete, since the seat can separate from the base frame in a crash.
What happens at the repair
Startrans has identified the repair as a seat replacement, but the final dealer process is listed as under development. Once the repair opens, a Startrans technician will replace the affected seats so they stay secured to the base frame. Parts and labor will be covered under the recall. Startrans has a general reimbursement plan on file, so documented seat-related repairs paid before the recall notice are handled through that standard plan. Keep prior repair invoices and payment records, then ask the service desk how to submit them when you arrange the recall repair.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| April 20, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 7, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| June 14, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| June 14, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 14, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V226?
Recall 16V226 covers 2 2016 Startrans Senator Ii transit buses with seats that can separate from the base frame because of bolt failure. In a crash, that seat separation increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant.
What should I do if my 2016 Startrans Senator Ii is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific transit bus is included in recall 16V226. If it is, contact a franchised Startrans dealer and ask for the seat replacement. Reference recall number 16V226 and Startrans recall number 5-04162016-0175 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and dealers will replace the affected seats free of charge under recall 16V226. Parts and labor are covered for included 2016 Startrans Senator Ii transit buses.
What is the safety risk in recall 16V226?
The risk is seat separation during a crash. The affected seats can separate from the base frame because of bolt failure, increasing the risk of injury to the person sitting there. The fix is replacement of the affected seats at no cost.
When did Startrans notify owners about recall 16V226?
Owner notification for recall 16V226 began on June 7, 2016. If you bought the transit bus used or never received a letter, check your VIN and give the dealer recall number 16V226 when asking about the free seat replacement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V226000 |
|---|---|
| Startrans customer service | 1-574-262-2212 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V226 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V226000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (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 →