Recall 19V842 covers 9 2019-2020 Trans Tech Sst and Cst school buses for roof-hatch handle failure. Repair is free through Safe Fleet dealers.
Trans Tech is recalling 9 2019-2020 Sst and Cst school buses because the external handle on a Safe Fleet Prolo roof hatch can break under reasonable use. If that handle breaks, emergency responders cannot easily open the hatch from outside the bus, which raises injury risk; Trans Tech dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The roof hatch on the 2019-2020 Trans Tech Sst and Cst school buses is an emergency exit built into the bus roof. Its outside Prolo handle releases the hatch so the opening can be used when normal doors are blocked or when responders need access. That handle has to stay strong enough to open the hatch under ordinary use.
On affected buses, the external handle was cast with zinc that cooled too quickly in one section of the mold. That left small voids inside the handle stem, which is the part that carries the force when someone pulls the handle. Because the weak spots are inside the metal, the handle can look normal until it breaks. A broken outside handle means the hatch release does not work as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The filing describes no visual or audible warning, so owners and fleet operators should not rely on inspection by sight or sound.
Who's affected?
Covers Sst and Cst buses across the 2019 and 2020 model years; both list the same emergency exit or egress structure component.
| 2020 Trans Tech Sst | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| 2019 Trans Tech Sst | body or structural component |
| 2020 Trans Tech Cst | body or structural component |
| 2019 Trans Tech Cst | body or structural component |
| Units affected | 9 |
| 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 bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
A broken roof hatch outer handle can make the hatch hard to open from outside during an emergency, increasing the risk of injury. There is no visual or audible warning before the handle fails, so have the recall repair completed soon if your VIN is included. Repair is free at any franchised Trans Tech dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 Trans Tech Sst or Cst school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact Trans Tech customer service at 1-845-988-0419 to schedule the free roof-hatch outer-handle replacement through Safe Fleet dealers.
- Bring the owner notice if you have it, and reference recall number 19V842 when you call.
- Inspect the roof hatch external handle before service, and keep emergency-exit access clear until the handle is replaced.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Trans Tech technician replaces the outer handle on the Safe Fleet Prolo roof hatch. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Trans Tech also has a general reimbursement plan on file for owner paid repairs tied to this handle issue. If you already paid for a related roof hatch handle repair, bring repair invoices or other documentation to the service desk and ask how to submit the claim under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 22, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 4, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| December 4, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 13, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 13, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V842?
Recall 19V842 covers 9 2019-2020 Trans Tech Sst and Cst school buses equipped with Safe Fleet Prolo roof hatches. The outer roof hatch handle can break during normal use, which can make the hatch harder to open from outside in an emergency.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 Trans Tech Sst or Cst is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in recall 19V842. If it is, contact Trans Tech customer service at 1-845-988-0419 or a Safe Fleet dealer to schedule the outer handle replacement. Reference recall 19V842 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost, and Transportation Collaborative's remedy says Safe Fleet dealers will replace the roof hatch outer handle free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for included buses.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is emergency access from outside the bus. If the roof hatch external handle breaks, the hatch cannot be easily opened from outside the vehicle during an emergency, increasing the risk of injury. The repair replaces the outer handle.
When did the repair become available?
The recall repair became available after the recall began on January 13, 2020. If your VIN is included and the handle has not been replaced, contact Trans Tech customer service or a Safe Fleet dealer and ask for the recall 19V842 repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V842000 |
|---|---|
| Trans Tech customer service | 1-845-988-0419 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V842 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V842000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →