Recall 19V581 affects 27 2019-2020 IC Bus RE and CE buses for a roof-hatch handle that can break. Repair is free at a franchised IC Bus dealer.
Ic Bus is recalling 27 2019-2020 Recb and Ce commercial buses under recall 19V581 because the external handle on the Prolo emergency exit roof hatch can break under normal use. If the handle fails during an emergency, rescuers cannot open the hatch from outside the bus, raising the risk of injury, and Ic Bus dealers will repair the hatch free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The roof hatch on these IC Bus models is the emergency exit built into the ceiling. Riders open it from inside using an internal handle, and from outside using an external release handle attached to the hatch frame. The external handle has to break the seal and lift the hatch quickly so first responders or escaping passengers can clear the opening in an emergency.
On affected buses, the external release handle was cast at a supplier with a mold-temperature problem in one section of the tooling. The injected zinc cooled too fast in that area, leaving small voids and porous spots inside the stem of the handle. A handle made this way looks normal but is weaker than it should be, and the stem can snap under reasonable pulling force when someone tries to open the hatch from outside.
There is no warning sign before failure. The handle gives no soft feel or visible crack before it breaks, which is why the recall replaces the part rather than waiting for symptoms.
Who's affected?
Covers both the CE and RECB school-bus chassis across the 2019 and 2020 model years, all built in the same window.
| 2019 Ic Bus Recb | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| 2019 Ic Bus Ce | body or structural component |
| 2020 Ic Bus Ce | body or structural component |
| 2020 Ic Bus Recb | body or structural component |
| Units affected | 27 |
| 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 roof hatch external handle prevents the hatch from opening easily from outside the bus during an emergency, which increases the risk of injury to passengers who need to be evacuated. Treat a loose, cracked, or non-functioning handle as a reason to schedule the repair soon and keep the hatch path clear. Repair is free at any franchised Ic Bus dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 IC Bus RE or CE commercial bus is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised IC Bus dealer to schedule the free replacement of the emergency-exit roof-hatch outer handle that can break under normal use.
- Reference recall number 19V581 (Navistar recall 19514) when you call the dealer so they pull the correct parts.
- Call Navistar customer service at 1-800-448-7825 with any questions about scheduling or the owner notification.
- Bring the recall notice to the appointment if Navistar has mailed one, and confirm the roof hatch is inspected before the bus returns to service.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Ic Bus technician replaces the outer handle on the Prolo emergency exit roof hatch with a corrected part. Parts and labor are free under the recall. If you previously paid out of pocket to repair or replace the roof hatch handle before the recall notice, Navistar's standard reimbursement plan covers documented expenses, and the customer notification letter includes reimbursement instructions. Bring your receipts and the owner letter to the service desk when you schedule the repair.
| 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 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| October 7, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V581?
Recall 19V581 covers 27 2019-2020 IC Bus RECB and CE commercial buses with Prolo emergency exit roof hatches that have a defective external handle. The handle can break under reasonable use, preventing the hatch from being opened from outside the bus in an emergency. Dealers will replace the outer handle for free.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 IC Bus RECB or CE is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 19V581. If it is, contact a franchised IC Bus dealer to schedule the roof-hatch handle replacement. Reference recall number 19V581 when you call. The repair is free. You can also contact Navistar customer service at 1-800-448-7825.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to perform the recall repair at no cost. Dealers will replace the Prolo emergency exit 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 external handle on the Prolo roof hatch breaks, the hatch cannot be easily opened from outside the bus during an emergency. That increases the risk of injury to passengers who need to be reached or evacuated through the roof exit. The replacement handle restores normal emergency-egress function.
What if I already paid for a roof-hatch handle repair on my IC Bus?
Contact Navistar customer service at 1-800-448-7825 to ask about reimbursement for prior out-of-pocket repairs related to the Prolo roof hatch external handle. Reference recall number 19V581 and have your receipts and repair documentation ready when you call.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V581000 |
|---|---|
| Ic Bus customer service | 1-800-448-7825 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V581 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V581000 |
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 →