Recall 21V291 affects 229 2020-2021 Gillig Low Floor and Brt buses for roof doors that can open. Repair is free at any franchised Gillig dealer.
Gillig is recalling 229 2020-2021 Low Floor and Brt CNG buses because the roof door overlap is too short, allowing the street-side door to open while in service. An open roof door can strike another vehicle or structure and increase crash risk; Gillig dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The CNG roof door locking mechanism on 2020-2021 Gillig Low Floor and Brt buses holds the compressed natural gas roof compartment closed while the bus is in service. The curb-side roof door is designed to overlap the street-side roof door, so the street-side door stays captured under the lock and cannot swing open on its own.
On affected buses, that overlap is too small. The street-side CNG roof door is not retained tightly enough in the closed position, so vibration, body movement, or other in-service loads can let it open during transit. The repair adds a locking plate, overlap bracket, and mounting hardware so the street-side door has more physical engagement with the curb-side locks.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or maintenance team should treat an open or loose CNG roof door as the defect condition, not as a normal adjustment issue.
Who's affected?
Covers the Low Floor and Brt bus lines across the 2020 and 2021 model years, all using the same CNG roof door locking mechanism.
| 2020 Gillig Low Floor | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2021 Gillig Low Floor | body structure |
| 2020 Gillig Brt | body structure |
| 2021 Gillig Brt | body structure |
| Units affected | 229 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 6 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?
An open door can strike another vehicle or structure and increase the risk of a crash. If your VIN is included, use caution around the door and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Gillig dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2020-2021 Gillig Low Floor or Brt bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Gillig dealer to schedule the free repair.
- Schedule the roof-door locking plate, overlap bracket, and hardware repair that keeps the street-side roof door from opening.
- Bring the recall notice if Gillig mailed one. If not, reference recall number 21V291 when you call.
- Inspect the roof door before service and keep the bus out of operation if the door is loose or open.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Gillig technician installs a new locking plate, overlap bracket, and mounting hardware for the roof door assembly. The repair corrects the insufficient door overlap described in recall 21V291, and parts and labor are covered by the recall. If you already paid out of pocket for this roof door repair before the owner notice, Gillig's general reimbursement plan is the path for documented expenses. Bring prior invoices or payment records to the service desk so the dealer can route the claim through Gillig.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| April 23, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 14, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 17, 2021 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| May 17, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V291?
Recall 21V291 covers 229 2020-2021 Gillig Low Floor and Brt CNG buses with roof-door overlap that is too small. The street-side roof door can open accidentally, and an open door can strike another vehicle or structure, increasing crash risk.
What should I do if my 2020-2021 Gillig Low Floor or Brt is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 21V291. If it is, contact a franchised Gillig dealer to schedule the roof-door hardware repair. Reference recall number 21V291 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to perform recall repairs at no cost. Gillig dealers will install a new locking plate, overlap bracket, and mounting hardware free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that the street-side roof door can open while the bus is in use. If the door opens, it can strike another vehicle or a structure, increasing the risk of a crash.
When were owners notified about this Gillig recall?
Gillig mailed owner notification letters on May 14, 2021. The recall repair is available, so owners do not need to wait for a new notice before checking the VIN and contacting a franchised Gillig dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V291000 |
|---|---|
| Gillig customer service | 1-510-264-5073 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V291 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V291000 |
Source documents
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 →