Recall 16V454 affects 1,787 2016-2017 Ic Bus Cesb and Resb school buses missing roof-hatch reflective tape. Repair is free at any franchised Ic Bus dealer.
Ic Bus is recalling 1,787 2016-2017 Cesb and Resb school buses because reflective outline tape is missing around the emergency exit roof hatches. Without that marking, emergency crews can have a harder time finding and opening roof hatches during an emergency, increasing passenger injury or death risk; Ic Bus dealers will install the required tape free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The emergency exit roof hatch on 2016-2017 Ic Bus Cesb and Resb school buses is an escape opening in the roof. Reflective outline tape is supposed to mark the perimeter of that hatch so passengers, drivers, or responders can find the exit path in low light or smoke.
On affected buses, that reflective tape was left off during assembly with certain Transpec roof hatch options. Inspections found the tape was not installed around the roof hatch opening or on the roof hatch itself. The problem traced back to the build instructions: the parts setup did not check all roof hatch variations, so buses with those options left the plant without the required marking.
There is no warning sign before failure. This is a missing safety marking, not a part that wears out or changes how the bus drives before it is needed.
Who's affected?
Covers both Cesb and Resb buses across the 2016 and 2017 model years, all tied to the emergency exit or egress structure.
| 2016 Ic Bus Cesb | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| 2017 Ic Bus Resb | body or structural component |
| 2016 Ic Bus Resb | body or structural component |
| 2017 Ic Bus Cesb | body or structural component |
| Units affected | 1,787 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident 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?
Without reflective outline tape, emergency exit roof hatches are harder for emergency personnel to spot and access. In an emergency, that delay increases passengers' risk of personal injury or death. Treat this as a visibility and access defect, and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ic Bus dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2017 Ic Bus Cesb or Resb is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer to schedule the free roof-hatch reflective-tape installation so emergency personnel can identify the emergency exits.
- Bring the owner notice to the appointment, and reference recall number 16V454 when you call.
- Ask the dealer to confirm reflective tape is installed around each emergency roof hatch before the bus returns to passenger service.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Ic Bus technician installs reflective outline tape around each emergency exit roof hatch so the hatch outline is visible as required. The recall repair is available now, and parts and labor are free. If you already paid for this roof hatch tape repair before the recall work, use Navistar's general reimbursement plan and keep your repair documentation for the claim. The service desk can explain how that plan applies to prior out-of-pocket work tied to this repair.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 22, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 18, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| August 20, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| August 20, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 20, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V454?
Recall 16V454 covers 1,787 2016-2017 Ic Bus Cesb and Resb school buses that were built without reflective outline tape around the emergency exit roof hatches. The missing tape can make the roof hatches harder for emergency personnel to find during an emergency. Ic Bus dealers will install the tape for free.
What should I do if my 2016-2017 Ic Bus Cesb or Resb is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 16V454. If it is, contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer and ask for the reflective roof-hatch tape installation. Reference recall number 16V454 when you call. The repair is free.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost. Ic Bus dealers will install reflective tape around the emergency exit roof hatch free of charge for any included 2016-2017 Cesb or Resb school bus.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced visibility of the emergency exit roof hatches. Without reflective outline tape, emergency personnel can have more difficulty identifying and accessing the roof hatches during an emergency, increasing the risk of passenger injury or death.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall repair began on July 18, 2016. Since the remedy is available, included owners can contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer to schedule the reflective tape installation around the emergency exit roof hatch.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V454000 |
|---|---|
| Ic Bus customer service | 1-800-448-7825 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V454 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V454000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →