Bus roof escape hatch/fmvss 217
Defect Summary
Turtle top is recalling certain model year 2010 through 2012 commercial buses manufactured from april 1, 2011, through march 25, 2012, equipped with specialty manufacturing inc. (smi) prolo roof hatches. 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."
Safety Consequence
In the event of an emergency, passengers' exit from the bus may be hindered possibly resulting in injury to the vehicle occupants.
Corrective Action
Turtle top will notify owners. smi will provide service kits along with repair instructions to dealers and owners, free of charge. the safety recall began on august 16, 2012. owners may contact turtle top at 1-574-831-4349 or smi at 1-800-951-7867.
Similar Recalls
Other recalls from Turtle Top or involving Structure.
FAQ: Recall 12V330000
Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.
What is recall 12V330000?
NHTSA recall 12V330000 was issued by Turtle Top on July 11, 2012. It addresses: Bus roof escape hatch/fmvss 217. The recall affects approximately 361 vehicles, with the defect involving the Structure component.
How do I get this recall repaired?
Contact any authorized Turtle Top dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 12V330000 or the manufacturer campaign number NR (Not Reported). Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.
Is my vehicle included in this recall?
The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.
How long do I have to get a recall repair done?
There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.
Where does the data on this page come from?
All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.