Recall 17V659 affects 47 2016-2017 Ic Bus Resb and Cesb buses for seat belt rod fracture. Repair is free at a franchised Ic Bus dealer.
Ic Bus is recalling 47 2016-2017 Resb and Cesb school buses equipped with certain IMMI 3-point lap and shoulder belt seat assemblies because the seat belt buckle mount rod can fracture under load. A fractured rod can leave the seat occupant unrestrained in a crash and increase injury risk; Ic Bus dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The affected part is the seat belt buckle mount rod under the school bus seat cushion on 2016-2017 Ic Bus Resb and Cesb buses with IMMI 39 inch BTI seats. That rod anchors the buckle for the 3-point lap and shoulder belt, so the buckle stays fixed when a passenger pulls the belt tight or the belt loads in a crash.
On recalled seats, rods from specific manufacturing lots were produced outside the normal process. That left the rod weaker than intended. Under load, the buckle mount rod can fracture. If the rod breaks, the buckle anchorage no longer holds the belt the way the safety standard requires.
There is no warning sign before failure. An affected seat can look normal from above the cushion, because the suspect rod sits underneath the seat cushion.
Who's affected?
Covers Resb and Cesb buses across the 2016 and 2017 model years, with seat belt anchorage listed as the shared component concern.
| 2016 Ic Bus Resb | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2016 Ic Bus Resb | seat belt |
| 2017 Ic Bus Resb | seat belt |
| 2017 Ic Bus Resb | seat belt |
| 2017 Ic Bus Cesb | seat belt |
| 2017 Ic Bus Cesb | seat belt |
| Units affected | 47 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the buckle mount rod fractures in a crash, the seat occupant can be left without proper restraint, increasing the risk of injury. Until the repair is complete, make sure every rider uses the seat belt and schedule the recall 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 Resb or Cesb is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer to schedule the free 3-point seat belt rod replacement that fixes the buckle mount rod fracture risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Ic Bus sent one. If not, reference recall number 17V659 when you call.
- Ask the dealer how to handle affected school bus seating until the seat belt rod replacement is complete.
- Call Ic Bus customer service at 1-331-332-1590 with questions and reference recall number 17V659.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Ic Bus technician replaces the rods for the 3-point seat belt assemblies covered by the recall. The replacement parts and labor are free. This repair addresses the buckle mount rod that can fracture under load on the affected school bus seats. If you already paid for this seat belt repair before the recall notice, Navistar's standard reimbursement plan applies. Follow the reimbursement instructions in the owner letter and keep your repair documentation for the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 18, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 14, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
| December 15, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| December 15, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 15, 2017 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| December 15, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V659?
Recall 17V659 covers 47 2016-2017 Ic Bus Resb and Cesb school buses with certain 3-point lap and shoulder belt seat assemblies. Under load, the seat belt buckle mount rod can fracture, leaving the occupant unrestrained in a crash. Ic Bus dealers will replace the 3-point seat belt rods for free.
What should I do if my 2016-2017 Ic Bus Resb or Cesb is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 17V659. If it is, contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer to schedule the 3-point seat belt rod replacement. Reference recall number 17V659 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Ic Bus dealers will replace the affected 3-point seat belt rods free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for buses included in recall 17V659.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is occupant injury in a crash. If the buckle mount rod fractures under load, the seat belt buckle can fail to hold the occupant in position. That defeats the restraint the belt is meant to provide. The dealer repair replaces the affected rods for free.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V659000 |
|---|---|
| Ic Bus customer service | 1-331-332-1590 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V659 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V659000 |
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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →