Recall 17V596 affects 10 2014 Starcraft Bus Prodigy buses for weak roof-panel adhesive. Repair is free at any franchised Starcraft Bus dealer.
Starcraft Bus is recalling 10 2014 Prodigy school buses because inconsistent adhesive on the roof panels means the body joints do not meet the school bus strength standard. In a crash, the panels can separate and raise the risk of injury; Starcraft Bus dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The roof and upper body panels on the 2014 Starcraft Bus Prodigy school bus are joined to the bus body with adhesive and screws. Those joints are supposed to help the roof and ceiling structure stay attached as a single body shell, which is why school bus body joint strength is covered by a federal safety standard.
On the affected buses, adhesive was not applied consistently during assembly. That leaves some roof panel joints without enough bonding material under the screws. The screws still hold the panel in place, but the joint does not meet the required body joint strength until the dealer removes the screws, checks for adhesive, adds adhesive where needed, and reseats the screws.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or driver is not expected to see, hear, or feel this problem during normal bus use.
Who's affected?
| 2014 Starcraft Bus Prodigy | body structure |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 10 |
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?
If adhesive was not applied consistently, body panels can separate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. There is no warning sign before this defect. Confirm whether your VIN is included and schedule the dealer inspection soon. Repair is free at any franchised Starcraft Bus dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014 Starcraft Bus Prodigy is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Starcraft Bus dealer to schedule the free roof-panel adhesive inspection and repair.
- Bring the recall notice if Starcraft Bus mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V596 when you call.
- Ask the dealer how to handle bus use until the adhesive inspection and repair are complete, especially if the bus is still carrying passengers.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Starcraft Bus technician inspects the roof panel joints for the correct amount of adhesive. Any joint that lacks enough adhesive is fixed as needed, so the bus body joint strength matches the recall remedy. The inspection and repair are free under the recall, with parts and labor covered. Starcraft Bus began this recall repair on November 9, 2017, so owners can schedule the dealer visit now.
Timeline
| September 22, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 9, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
| November 20, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| November 20, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 20, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V596?
Recall 17V596 covers 10 2014 Starcraft Bus Prodigy school buses with roof panels that received inconsistent adhesive at the body joints. In a crash, those panels can separate and increase injury risk. Starcraft Bus dealers will inspect the joints and add adhesive where needed for free.
What should I do if my 2014 Starcraft Bus Prodigy is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 17V596. If it is, contact a franchised Starcraft Bus dealer to schedule the roof-panel joint inspection and repair. Reference recall number 17V596 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the recall remedy says dealers will inspect the roof-panel joints and fix them as needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced roof-panel joint strength in a crash. If the adhesive is not consistent at the roof panels, the panels can separate during a crash and increase injury risk. The repair path is a free dealer inspection and adhesive correction where needed.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall repair became available when the recall began on November 9, 2017. Owners can contact a franchised Starcraft Bus dealer for the inspection and repair, or call Starcraft Bus customer service at 1-800-348-7440 with recall number 17V596.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V596000 |
|---|---|
| Starcraft Bus customer service | 1-800-348-7440 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V596 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V596000 |
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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →