Recall 23V254 affects 29 2019-2022 Starcraft Bus Prodigy school buses for loose ceiling panels. Repair is free at any franchised Starcraft Bus dealer.
Starcraft Bus is recalling 29 2019-2022 Prodigy school buses because the ceiling interior panels are not properly secured under recall 23V254. Those panels can leave passengers with less protection in a crash and raise injury risk; the Starcraft Bus dealer repair is free.
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What's wrong?
The ceiling panel in a 2019-2022 Starcraft Bus Prodigy school bus is part of the interior body structure above the passenger area. It covers the roof structure and is bonded at its joints so the panels stay secured to the bus body during normal use.
On affected buses, some ceiling panel joints did not receive enough adhesive in the right location. That adhesive is supposed to cure into a bond strong enough that the panels do not separate. When the adhesive is missing or misplaced, the joint does not meet the required school bus body joint strength standard.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner, driver, or maintenance crew should not expect a sound, looseness, or visible gap to appear before the panel joint problem is found during inspection.
Who's affected?
Spans the 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022 Prodigy model years, all tied to the ceiling panel.
| 2019 Starcraft Bus Prodigy | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| 2021 Starcraft Bus Prodigy | body or structural component |
| 2022 Starcraft Bus Prodigy | body or structural component |
| 2020 Starcraft Bus Prodigy | body or structural component |
| Units affected | 29 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident 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?
Improperly secured ceiling panels reduce passenger protection in a crash and increase injury risk. If your VIN is included, schedule the dealer inspection soon and ask what to avoid until the panels are checked. Repair is free at any franchised Starcraft Bus dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2022 Starcraft Bus Prodigy is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Starcraft Bus dealer to schedule the free ceiling-panel inspection and adhesive repair that secures the interior roof panels.
- Bring the recall notice if Starcraft Bus mailed one. If not, reference recall number 23V254 when you call.
- Ask the dealer whether to keep the bus out of passenger service until the inspection is complete.
- Call Starcraft Bus customer service at 1-800-348-7440 with questions about the free repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Starcraft Bus technician inspects the interior ceiling panels and applies adhesive where the panels need additional securement. The inspection and repair are free under recall 23V254. If you already paid for a repair within the same defect scope, Starcraft Bus still needs to inspect or perform the recall repair to confirm the correct parts and procedures were used. For a refund request, submit the service invoice to the warranty manager address listed in the recall notice, or contact Forest River Bus Customer Service.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| April 7, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 25, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
| May 17, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| May 17, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 17, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V254?
Recall 23V254 covers 29 2019-2022 Starcraft Bus Prodigy school buses with a ceiling-panel securement defect. In a crash, the panels can leave passengers less protected, increasing injury risk. Dealers will inspect the panels and apply adhesive for free when needed.
What should I do if my 2019-2022 Starcraft Bus Prodigy is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in recall 23V254. If it is, contact a franchised Starcraft Bus dealer to schedule the ceiling-panel inspection. Reference recall number 23V254 or Forest River Bus recall number 05-1621 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Starcraft Bus dealers will inspect the ceiling panels and apply adhesive as needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is reduced passenger protection in a crash. The ceiling interior panels were not secured correctly, so they can fail to provide the required protection under the school bus body joint strength standard, increasing the risk of injury.
When were owners notified about recall 23V254?
Owner notification letters were mailed April 25, 2023. If your organization owns or operates a 2019-2022 Starcraft Bus Prodigy and never received a notice, check your VIN and contact Starcraft Bus Customer Service at 1-800-348-7440.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V254000 |
|---|---|
| Starcraft Bus customer service | 1-800-348-7440 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V254 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V254000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →