Recall 17V519 affects 3,432 2016-2017 Gillig Low Floor buses for a driver-seat-belt buckle that stays locked. Free repair at any franchised Gillig dealer.
Gillig is recalling 3,432 2016-2017 Low Floor transit buses equipped with Recaro Commercial Bus Driver Seats because the driver's seat belt buckle can stick in the locked position, keeping the tongue from latching. A bus operated without a latched driver seat belt raises the risk of injury in a crash, and the Gillig dealer repair is free.
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What's wrong?
The driver seat belt buckle in the 2016-2017 Gillig Low Floor is the latch assembly on certain Recaro Commercial Bus Driver Seats. Its job is simple: accept the metal latch plate, hold it locked during driving, and release it only when the operator presses the buckle button.
In the recalled buckle design, the latch plate can travel too far into the buckle. That extra travel lets the buckle's ejector piece get trapped under a small switch adapter inside the assembly. When that happens, the buckle is already blocked in the locked position before the operator inserts the belt tongue. The tongue cannot seat and lock, so the driver cannot secure the seat belt.
The warning sign is immediate and physical. The operator tries to buckle the belt, but the latch plate is blocked and will not lock into the buckle. That is the defect the replacement buckle design is built to prevent.
Who's affected?
The seat belt concern centers on the belt system and the front buckle assembly.
| 2016 Gillig Low Floor | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2016 Gillig Low Floor | seat belt |
| 2017 Gillig Low Floor | seat belt |
| 2017 Gillig Low Floor | seat belt |
| Units affected | 3,432 |
| 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?
A blocked seat belt latch plate keeps the operator from securing the belt. Operating the bus without a latched belt increases injury risk in a crash. If the seat belt will not latch, keep the bus out of service and arrange the buckle replacement. Repair is free at any franchised Gillig dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2017 Gillig Low Floor is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Gillig dealer to schedule the free seat-belt-buckle replacement that fixes buckles stuck in the locked position.
- Bring the recall notice if Gillig sent one. If not, reference recall number 17V519 when you call.
- Avoid operating the bus with an unlatched driver seat belt while you wait for the repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Gillig technician works with the seat supplier to replace the seat belt buckles in the Recaro Commercial Bus driver seats. The replacement is free under recall 17V519, with parts and labor covered. If the owner already paid for buckle-related seat belt work before the recall repair, Gillig's general reimbursement plan covers documented expenses. Bring prior repair paperwork to Gillig Service when requesting reimbursement.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 23, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 22, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| September 22, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| October 4, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
| October 6, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V519?
Recall 17V519 covers 3,432 2016-2017 Gillig Low Floor transit buses equipped with Recaro Commercial Bus Driver Seats. The driver seat belt buckle can stick in the locked position, preventing the seat belt tongue from being inserted and latched.
What should I do if my 2016-2017 Gillig Low Floor is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 17V519. If it is, contact Gillig Service at 1-800-735-1500 and reference recall 17V519. Gillig will work with the supplier to replace the affected buckle for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Gillig's remedy says the supplier will replace the affected seat belt buckles free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is that the driver seat belt cannot be latched. If the bus is operated without the driver's seat belt being used, injury risk increases in a crash. The repair path is a free buckle replacement through Gillig and its supplier.
What warning signs should I watch for?
The clear warning sign is a buckle that stays locked and will not accept the seat belt tongue. If the driver's seat belt cannot be inserted and latched, contact Gillig Service and arrange the free buckle replacement tied to recall 17V519.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V519000 |
|---|---|
| Gillig customer service | 1-248-484-3250 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V519 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V519000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - 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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →