2011 Startrans Senator Recall: Structure
NHTSA campaign 12V269000 · Structure · filed Jun 13, 2012 · verified Jul 30, 2026
The defect
STARTRANS BUS CORPORATION (STARTRANS) IS RECALLING ONE MODEL YEAR 2011 SENATOR COMMERCIAL BUS EQUIPPED WITH A SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING INC. (SMI) PROLO ROOF HATCH. INCREASED FRICTION BETWEEN THE REAR PLATE ASSEMBLY, P/NO. 009327, AND THE NYLON REAR POP-UP SUPPORT, P/NO. 008956, MAY RESULT IN AN OPENING FORCE OF THE PROLO ROOF HATCHES THAT EXCEEDS FEDERAL STANDARD REQUIREMENTS. THUS, THESE HATCHES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, EGRESS OF THE BUS MAY BE HINDERED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →The fix — what to do
STARTRANS WILL NOTIFY THE OWNER AND A SERVICE KIT WILL BE PROVIDED BY SMI ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS TO THE DEALER OR OWNER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY BEGAN IN JUNE 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT STARTRANS AT 1-574-6420811 OR SMI AT 1-800-951-7867.
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .
Affected vehicles
Related recalls
More Startrans Senator recalls
- 2008–2014 Startrans Azure Hybrid and 9 other models — Platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may…
- 2008–2014 Startrans Azure Hybrid and 8 other models — Affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may…
- 2008–2010 Startrans Candidate and 10 other models — Platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may…
- 2013 Startrans President and 5 other models — Armored cable may be positioned such that it does not clear…
- 2006–2012 Startrans C2 and 8 other models — Cable may have been installed such that it doesn't clear…
Other campaigns involving Startrans vehicles
- 2026 Forest River Bus Champion Bus and 17 other models — Retractors may not lock, preventing the wheelchair from…
- 2021 Battisti Customs Battisti and 26 other models — Programmable Relay Power Center (PRC) module can fail
- 2014–2016 Startrans School Bus — Rear emergency exit window labels are not in the correct…
Source: NHTSA recall database, campaign 12V269000. Data last verified Jul 30, 2026.