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."
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, EGRESS OF THE BUS MAY BE HINDERED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
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> .