Recall 12V248 affects 57 2011-2012 Arboc Freedom and Spirit Of Mobility buses for roof hatch opening-force defects. Repair is free at Arboc dealers.
Arboc is recalling 57 2011-2012 Freedom and Spirit Of Mobility transit buses under recall 12V248 because increased friction in Prolo roof escape hatches raises the force needed to open them above federal requirements. In an emergency, a hard-to-open hatch can slow exit from the bus and increase injury risk; the dealer repair will be free once Arboc makes the remedy available.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The roof escape hatch on 2011-2012 Arboc Freedom and Spirit Of Mobility buses is an emergency exit built into the roof. During an evacuation, passengers or responders use the hatch as another way out. The hatch has rear plate assemblies and a nylon rear pop-up support that help it lift open when pressure is applied.
On affected buses, those parts create too much friction against each other. That extra drag raises the force needed to open the Prolo roof hatch, so the hatch does not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 217 for bus emergency exits. The problem is mechanical: the hatch hardware resists movement instead of releasing with the required effort.
There is no warning sign before failure. The hatch can look normal during daily service, but in an emergency it requires more force than the safety standard allows.
Who's affected?
Covers the Freedom and Spirit Of Mobility across the 2011 and 2012 model years; both list the same body structure component.
| 2012 Arboc Freedom | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2011 Arboc Spirit Of Mobility | body structure |
| 2012 Arboc Spirit Of Mobility | body structure |
| 2011 Arboc Freedom | body structure |
| Units affected | 57 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
An emergency exit issue can make it harder for bus occupants to get out during an emergency, increasing injury risk. If your VIN is included, schedule service and treat any exit that does not open or latch correctly as a reason to stop using the bus until inspected. Repair will be free at any franchised Arboc dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2012 Arboc Freedom or Spirit Of Mobility bus is included in this recall.
- Contact Arboc at 1-574-825-1720 to confirm the service-kit status and reference recall number 12V248.
- Ask an Arboc dealer or authorized repair contact about the free Prolo roof escape hatch service kit that reduces the opening force at the rear plate and nylon support.
- Bring the recall notice if Arboc mailed one, plus any service records tied to the roof escape hatch.
- Keep emergency-exit access clear until the hatch repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
The repair path described for this recall is a free service kit from Specialty Manufacturing, with repair instructions for dealers and owners. Because the remedy status is not stated here, confirm scheduling before taking the bus in. Once the repair is open, an Arboc technician installs the kit for the Prolo roof escape hatch assembly so the hatch opening force meets the required standard. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. The recall began on June 27, 2012.
Timeline
| May 31, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 27, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V248?
Recall 12V248 covers 57 2011-2012 Arboc Freedom and Spirit Of Mobility transit buses equipped with Prolo roof escape hatches. The hatch opening force exceeds Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 217 requirements, so Specialty Manufacturing service kits and repair instructions are provided free of charge.
What should I do if my 2011-2012 Arboc Freedom or Spirit Of Mobility is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 12V248. If it is, contact a franchised Arboc dealer or Arboc at 1-574-825-1720 and reference recall 12V248. The service kit and repair instructions are free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall remedy at no cost, and Arboc says Specialty Manufacturing provides the service kits and repair instructions to dealers and owners free of charge. The safety recall began on June 27, 2012.
What is the safety risk in recall 12V248?
The safety risk is harder emergency exit through the Prolo roof hatches. Increased friction in the hatch support parts raises the force needed to open the hatch, which can hinder bus evacuation during an emergency and increase injury risk to occupants.
What if I bought this Arboc bus used?
The free recall remedy still applies to an included VIN. Used buses change hands, and owner letters do not always reach the current operator. Check your VIN, then give recall 12V248 to the Arboc dealer or service contact when you ask for the repair path.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V248000 |
|---|---|
| Arboc customer service | 1-574-825-1720 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V248 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V248000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →