Recall 17V666 covers 266 2011-2017 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel school buses for seat belt buckle placement. Repair will be free once available.
Van-Con is recalling 266 2011-2017 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel school buses because the seat belt buckle latch plate assembly can sit across a passenger's lap instead of at the side. That belt position raises occupant-injury risk in a crash, and the dealer repair will be free once Van-Con makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The seat belt buckle latch plate assembly on the 2011-2017 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel school buses is the metal-and-webbing buckle section that the passenger clicks into place. On a compliant school bus seat belt, that buckled connection sits to the side of the seated passenger. That position helps the lap belt lie across the body as intended under Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 222.
On affected buses, the buckle end is too long for the school bus seating rule. When the belt is buckled, the latch plate assembly can lie across the passenger's lap instead of staying at the side. Van-Con traced the issue to continued use of older seat belt length requirements after the 2011 specification change, so the belts exceeded the allowed limit plane for this seating standard.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is belt fit and buckle location, so an owner or service staff member needs to inspect the buckle position and confirm the recall repair path with Van-Con.
Who's affected?
Covers the 2011 through 2017 model years with both front and rear seat belt buckle assemblies listed for the same 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel model.
| 2016 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2016 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
| 2012 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
| 2012 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
| 2013 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
| 2013 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
| 2011 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
| 2011 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
| 2014 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
| 2014 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
| 2015 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
| 2015 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
| 2017 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
| 2017 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat belt |
| Units affected | 266 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific vehicle is included.
What's the safety risk?
An incorrectly positioned seat belt assembly can keep the belt from holding an occupant as intended, increasing the risk of injury in a crash. Use the seat belt normally, avoid modifying the buckle or belt path, and schedule the recall work soon if your VIN is included. Repair will be free at any franchised Van-Con dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2017 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel school bus is included in this recall.
- Wait for Van-Con's repair instructions before scheduling service.
- Call Van-Con customer service at 1-732-356-8484 with questions and reference recall number 17V666 when you call.
- Schedule the free shorter-buckle seat belt repair once Van-Con opens the repair, so the latch plate sits beside the passenger instead of across the lap.
- Bring the recall notice to the service appointment if Van-Con mailed one.
What happens at the repair
Van-Con's listed remedy is to replace the buckle end of the seat belt with a shorter buckle end so the latch plate sits at the side of the passenger instead of across the lap. Because the remedy status is still listed as under development, do not assume the final dealer repair can be scheduled until Van-Con confirms availability. Once it opens, parts and labor are covered. Van-Con has a general reimbursement plan on file, so owners who already paid for this seat belt repair should keep repair documentation and ask Van-Con customer service how to submit it.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 19, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 19, 2017 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V666?
Recall 17V666 covers 266 2011-2017 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel school buses built on Chevrolet 3500 chassis. The seat belt buckle latch plate assembly can sit across a passenger's lap instead of to the side, which does not meet school bus passenger seating and crash protection rules.
What should I do if my 2011-2017 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 17V666. If it is, contact Van-Con customer service at 1-732-356-8484 or a franchised Van-Con service location to arrange the buckle-end replacement. Reference recall 17V666 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Van-Con will replace the buckle end of the seat belt with a shorter buckle end free of charge. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost to the owner.
What is the safety risk?
The listed risk is occupant injury in a crash. In affected buses, the seat belt buckle latch plate assembly can rest across the seated passenger's lap instead of sitting to the side, which affects how the belt is positioned during a crash.
When did Van-Con start this recall repair?
Van-Con began the recall on December 19, 2017. If your school bus never received the seat belt buckle-end replacement, check your VIN and reference recall 17V666 when you contact Van-Con customer service or the service location.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V666000 |
|---|---|
| Van-Con customer service | 1-732-356-8484 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V666 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V666000 |
Source documents
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 →