2011 Starcraft PRODIGY: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2011-02-15 (February 15, 2011)

STARCRAFT IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 PRODIGY MFSAB AND QUEST MODEL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 20, 2008, THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2011. THE BODY PANELS COULD BE MISSING A STRUCTURAL JOINT ADHESIVE. ACCORDINGLY, THESE BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE JOINT STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH."

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH CAN OCCUR AS A RESULT OF THE STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE OF THE SCHOOL BUS BODY PANELS.

Remedy: STARCRAFT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT STARCRAFT AT 1-800-348-7440.

Reported: 2011-02-17 (February 17, 2011)

STARCRAFT IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 PRODIGY AND QUEST MFSAB MODEL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 20, 2008, THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2011. THE LABEL INSTRUCTING DRIVERS TO NOT USE THE CROSS MIRRORS TO VIEW TRAFFIC WHILE THE BUS IS IN MOTION IS MISSING. ACCORDINGLY, THESE BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE LABELING REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 111, "REVIEW MIRRORS."

Consequence: USING THE MIRRORS TO VIEW TRAFFIC WHILE THE BUS IS IN MOTION DOES NOT ACCURATELY SHOW ANOTHER VEHICLE'S LOCATION AND COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: STARCRAFT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 28, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT STARCRAFT AT 1-800-348-7440.

Reported: 2011-12-08 (December 8, 2011)

STARCRAFT BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 PRODIGY AND QUEST SCHOOL BUSES AND MFSAB ACTIVITY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 8, 2008, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 16, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH A CHALLENGER DOOR REAR EMERGENCY EXIT DOORS. DUE TO INSUFFICIENT LUBRICATION ON THE REAR DOOR HANDLE LATCH MECHANISM, THE HANDLE MAY BIND, REQUIRING A GREAT FORCE TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR. ACCORDINGLY, THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS MAY BE UNABLE TO OPEN THE REAR DOOR, WHICH WOULD HINDER EGRESS OF THE BUS, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: STARCRAFT BUS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 10, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT STARCRAFT BUS AT 1-800-348-7440.

Reported: 2011-12-08 (December 8, 2011)

STARCRAFT IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 PRODIGY AND QUEST SCHOOL BUSES AND MFSAB ACTIVITY VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 12, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 6, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH C. E. WHITE SELF-LATCHING SEAT CUSHIONS. THE SELF-LATCHING MECHANISM USED TO RETAIN THE SEAT CUSHION TO THE FRAME MAY NOT ACTIVATE. ACCORDINGLY, THESE SEATS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 222, "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence: VEHICLE OCCUPANTS MAY BE INJURED IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH SHOULD THE SEAT CUSHION FLIP UP OUT OF PLACE. ALSO, OUT OF POSITION SEAT CUSHIONS COULD INTERFERE WITH EMERGENCY EGRESS OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: STARCRAFT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT STARCRAFT BUS AT 1-800-348-7440.

Reported: 2012-03-05 (March 5, 2012)

STARCRAFT IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010-2011 PRODIGY AND QUEST SCHOOL BUSES, MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 11, 2010 THROUGH JANUARY 3, 2011. THESE BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH BUS SEATS MANUFACTURED BY C.E. WHITE. THE SEATS WERE SOLD AND INSTALLED AS ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT FOR CERTAIN STARCRAFT SCHOOL BUSES. THE SEATS FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NUMBER 222, "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT BACK MAY FAIL, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT’S OCCUPANT.

Remedy: STARCRAFT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REINFORCING BRACKET THAT C.E. WHITE HAS PROVIDED. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 5, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT STARCRAFT AT 1-800-347-7440.

Reported: 2014-01-27 (January 27, 2014)

Starcraft Bus is recalling certain model year 2010-2013 Allstar XL, Ultrastar, Allstar, Starlite, Starquest, Xpress, Prodigy, Quest, and Allstar MVP transit buses built on Ford cutaway chassis equipped with Ford 5.4L or 6.8L engines and Trans/Air-brand air compressors. In the affected vehicles, depending on the routing of the alternator harness, and the orientation of the heater hose spring clamp at the front of the intake manifold, the alternator harness may be pinched between the spring clamp and the air conditioner compressor mounting bracket.

Consequence: The charging system may fail which could lead to the vehicle stalling while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, the spring clamp could pierce both the positive and negative wires of the alternator harness creating a short circuit which could result in a fire.

Remedy: Starcraft Bus will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the vehicles, correct the clamp installation and repair and reroute the alternator harness, as needed, free of charge. The recall began on February 19, 2014. Customers may contact Starcraft at 1-800-347-7440.

Reported: 2015-05-20 (May 20, 2015)

Starcraft Bus (Starcraft) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Quest and Prodigy school buses manufactured June 20, 2006, through February 17, 2015 on GM chassis. The affected vehicles are equipped with Trans-Air add-on compressor mount kits, part numbers 4012506-01, 4012506-02, 4013126-01, 4013126-02, 4013235-01, 4013235-02, 4012909, 4013125, 4013222 and 717173 installed by Trans-Air personnel. After installing the compressor, a power distribution terminal strip may not have been properly reconnected.

Consequence: If the power distribution terminal strip has a poor connection or a loose connection, the strip may arc or overheat, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Remedy: Starcraft will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the power distribution terminal strip connection, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on August 17, 2015. Owners may contact Starcraft customer service at 1-800-348-7440. Starcraft's number for this recall is 15V-213.

Reported: 2015-07-06 (July 6, 2015)

Starcraft Bus (Starcraft) is recalling certain model year 2008-2015 Prodigy and Quest school buses manufactured October 20, 2008, to June 1, 2015. The affected vehicles may be equipped with Tire Placards that display an incorrect kilopascal (kPa) value for tire pressures. The label may also be missing the spare tire information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 110, "Tire Selection and Rims and Motor Home/Recreation Vehicle Trailer Load Carrying Capacity Information for Motor Vehicles with a GVWR of 4,536 kilograms (10,000 pounds) or less."

Consequence: If the tire is filled based on the incorrect information listed on the placard, the tire may be over inflated, possibly resulting in sudden tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Starcraft will notify owners and will provide them with corrected labels, free of charge. The recall began on September 4, 2015. Owners may contact Starcraft customer service at 1-800-348-7440.