Recall 19V580 affects 2,677 2019-2020 IC Bus CESB and RESB school buses for a breakable emergency roof-hatch handle. Repair is free at any franchised IC Bus dealer.
IC Bus is recalling 2,677 2019-2020 RESB and 2020 CESB school buses under recall 19V580 because the external handle on the Prolo emergency exit roof hatch can break under normal use. If the handle breaks during an emergency, rescuers cannot open the hatch from outside the bus, raising the risk of injury, and an IC Bus dealer will replace the hatch handle free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The Prolo emergency exit roof hatch on these IC Bus school buses sits in the ceiling and gives students and the driver a way out if the bus rolls or the main doors are blocked. The external release handle is the cast metal grip on the outside of the hatch that rescuers pull on to open it from the roof. Federal safety rules require that handle to hold up to a specified pulling force without breaking.
On affected buses, the handles came from a supplier lot where the casting mold ran too cold in one section. The injected zinc cooled faster than it should have, leaving porosity and small voids inside the stem of the handle. A handle with hidden voids looks normal but is weaker than the design calls for, and it can snap unexpectedly under reasonable pulling force during an emergency exit attempt or a routine inspection.
There is no warning sign before failure. The handle looks correct from the outside, and the weakness is inside the cast metal where an owner or driver cannot see it.
Who's affected?
Covers the CESB and RESB school bus models across the 2019 and 2020 model years, all built between August 2018 and July 2019.
| 2020 Ic Bus Cesb | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| 2019 Ic Bus Resb | body or structural component |
| 2020 Ic Bus Resb | body or structural component |
| Units affected | 2,677 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 3 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in this recall.
What's the safety risk?
A broken external roof-hatch handle means the hatch will not open easily from outside the bus during an emergency, which raises the risk of injury to anyone trying to reach passengers through that exit. Schedule the repair soon so the escape path stays usable. Repair is free at any franchised Ic Bus dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 Ic Bus Cesb or Resb school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer to schedule the free replacement of the Prolo emergency exit roof hatch outer handle.
- Reference recall number 19V580 (Navistar recall 19513) when you call so the service desk pulls the correct parts.
- Call Navistar customer service at 1-800-448-7825 with questions about the repair or owner notification.
- Inspect the roof hatch handle before each route until the repair is complete, and avoid relying on it as the primary emergency exit until the new handle is installed.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an IC Bus technician replaces the outer handle on the Prolo emergency exit roof hatch. Parts and labor are free under the recall. If you have already paid out of pocket to replace a broken roof hatch handle on one of these school buses, Navistar's standard reimbursement plan covers documented expenses, and reimbursement instructions are included in the customer notification letter. Bring your receipts and the notification letter to the service desk when you arrive so the dealer can process the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 8, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 7, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| October 7, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 7, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| October 7, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V580?
Recall 19V580 covers 2,677 2019-2020 IC Bus RESB and 2020 IC Bus CESB school buses with Prolo emergency exit roof hatches. The outer handle can break under normal use, which means the hatch cannot be opened easily from outside in an emergency. Dealers will replace the outer handle for free.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 IC Bus RESB or CESB is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 19V580. If it is, contact a franchised IC Bus dealer to schedule the outer handle replacement. Reference recall number 19V580 when you call. The repair is free. You can also reach Navistar customer service at 1-800-448-7825.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair the defect at no cost. Navistar will replace the roof hatch outer handle free of charge at any franchised IC Bus dealer, regardless of where the bus was originally purchased.
What is the safety risk?
If the roof hatch external handle breaks, first responders or rescuers cannot easily open the emergency exit hatch from outside the bus. In an emergency where students or the driver need outside assistance to evacuate, that delay increases the risk of injury. The handle replacement restores normal emergency-exit operation.
What warning signs should I watch for?
Inspect the external roof hatch handle for any looseness, cracking, or signs of breakage during routine pre-trip checks. If the handle feels loose, is damaged, or has already broken, stop using the affected hatch as your primary emergency exit reference and schedule the recall repair with an IC Bus dealer right away.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V580000 |
|---|---|
| Ic Bus customer service | 1-800-448-7825 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V580 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V580000 |
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 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →