The problem
Forest River Bus, LLC (Forest River) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Starcraft Starlite transit buses. The emergency exit handles and labels are not easily accessible which can prevent or delay the exit of passengers in the event of an emergency. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."
The risk
In the event of a crash or fire, passengers may not be able to exit the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix
Dealers will replace the egress window, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 12, 2024. Owners may contact Forest River customer service at 1-800-348-7440. Forest River's number for this recall is 05-1807.
Contacts
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized Starcraft Bus dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 24V502000.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.