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NHTSA campaign 18V813000

2015–2018 Arboc and Arboc Specialty Vehicles: seats recall

In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury.

high 62 vehicles affected FMVSS 207

What was reported

Source: manufacturer filing, 49 CFR Part 573
Problem ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC (ARBOC) is recalling certain 2015-2018 ARBOC Spirit of Freedom, Spirit of Mobility and Spirit of Independence-Pro Master transit buses, equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats, part numbers 43705, 45467, 48923, and 75719. When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position, the seat cushion may not remain locked into place when under load, such as in a crash or a sudden stop. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems." Risk In the event of a crash, if the seat back moves, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury. Fix ARBOC has notified owners, directing them to contact Freedman for repairs of the foldaway seat, free of charge. The recall began November 29, 2018. Owners may contact Freedman customer service at 1-800-443-4540 or ARBOC at 1-574-825-4880.

Reported to NHTSA Nov 16, 2018 by ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC, owners notified Nov 29, 2018.

Which vehicles are covered

Source: NHTSA campaign 18V813000

Vehicles built Sep 22, 2015 to Jul 28, 2018 — a VIN outside that window is not part of this campaign even if the year, make and model match.

Model yearOn WhichTrim
2015 Arboc Spirit OF Freedom
2016 Arboc Spirit OF Freedom
2017 Arboc Spirit OF Freedom
2015 Arboc Spirit OF Independence
2016 Arboc Spirit OF Independence
2017 Arboc Spirit OF Independence
2018 Arboc Spirit OF Independence
2015 Arboc Spirit OF Mobility
2016 Arboc Spirit OF Mobility
2017 Arboc Spirit OF Mobility
2018 Arboc Specialty Vehicles Spirit OF Freedom
2018 Arboc Specialty Vehicles Spirit OF Mobility

None of the vehicles this campaign names has a page on WhichTrim: the catalogue covers the cars, trucks and SUVs the EPA certifies from 2016 on, and these vehicles fall outside it — older model years, or motorhomes, trailers, buses, motorcycles and chassis cabs the EPA does not rate. The campaign record above is complete as filed, and whether one specific vehicle is included is settled by its VIN. Other campaigns on vehicles without a page here →

The federal paperwork

Source: nhtsa.gov

Filed documents

Check one specific vehicle

A recall applies to a build range, so year, make and model cannot settle it. NHTSA checks a VIN against the manufacturer's own list and tells you whether the repair is still outstanding on that vehicle.

NHTSA VIN recall lookup →

Campaign 18V813000

Own one, or run a fleet? Recall Watch checks each VIN against every new NHTSA campaign and emails you when one lands, this one's expansions included. Or take a free one-line alert by model year.

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Common questions

Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573

Does this recall repair cost anything?

No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to remedy a safety defect or a compliance failure at no charge, for vehicles up to 15 years old measured from the date of first sale. A dealer that asks you to pay for a recall repair is in the wrong.

How do I know whether my vehicle is included?

By VIN, not by model year. This campaign covers vehicles built Sep 22, 2015 to Jul 28, 2018. The manufacturer files a build range with NHTSA and only vehicles inside it are covered, so two identical-looking cars from the same year can differ. NHTSA's own lookup checks a VIN against the manufacturer's list.

What if the repair is not available yet?

It happens, and often. Manufacturers must notify owners when a defect is found even if the parts or the software are not ready, then notify them a second time once the remedy exists. The remedy filed for this campaign is described above.

What did the manufacturer say was wrong?

The problem, risk and fix quoted on this page are the manufacturer's own words as filed with NHTSA under 49 CFR Part 573. WhichTrim does not paraphrase them.

Who started this recall?

NHTSA's record credits the manufacturer. A recall can begin with the manufacturer's own testing, with a defect investigation, or with a compliance test against a Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard.