9999 SMI PROLO

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING, INC. (SMI) IS RECALLING CERTAIN PROLO BUS ROOF ESCAPE HATCHES INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT ON VARIOUS SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES SHIPPED FROM APRIL 1, 2011, THROUGH MARCH 25, 2012. THESE HATCHES MAY HAVE ALSO BEEN USED AS SERVICE REPLACEMENT PARTS. INCREASED FRICTION BETWEEN THE REAR PLATE ASSEMBLIES, 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."

Risk: IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, A NONCOMPLIANT HATCH MAY NOT PROVIDE A MEANS OF READILY ACCESSIBLE EGRESS, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.