Recall 15V307 affects 13 2015 Collins DH500, SH40, SL408, and DE516WR school buses for seat-bottom foam flammability. Repair is free at any franchised Collins dealer.
Collins is recalling 13 2015 DH500, SH40, SL408, and DE516WR school buses because the seat-bottom foam core is under recall for federal flammability compliance. The defect can let seats catch fire near an ignition source and raise the risk that fire starts or spreads; Collins dealers will replace the seat bottoms free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The seat bottom in the 2015 Collins DH500, SH40, SL408, and DE516WR school buses is the cushion section students sit on. Its foam core gives the seat its shape and padding. That foam also has to meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 302, the federal flammability rule for interior materials.
In affected buses, certain HSM seat bottom assemblies used foam that does not meet that flammability requirement. The issue is limited to seat bottoms from HSM, including seats from 26 inches to 45 inches wide. The seat frame and other school bus seat components are not identified as part of this recall.
There is no visual or audible warning sign before failure. The affected seat bottom assemblies are presumed to contain the defect and need the repair described for NHTSA campaign 15V307.
Who's affected?
Covers 4 Collins bus models that share the same seat assembly component.
| 2015 Collins DH500 | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2015 Collins SH40 | seat assembly |
| 2015 Collins SL408 | seat assembly |
| 2015 Collins DE516WR | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 13 |
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?
With the recalled seat bottom foam core, a seat is less resistant to catching fire when an ignition source is present. That raises the risk that a fire starts or spreads. There is no visual or audible warning for this defect, so confirm the VIN and schedule the seat-bottom replacement. Repair is free at any franchised Collins dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015 Collins DH500, SH40, SL408, or DE516WR school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Collins dealer to schedule the free seat-bottom foam replacement that installs foam meeting the flammability standard.
- Bring the recall notice if Collins mailed one, or give the dealer recall number 15V307 when you schedule.
- Call Collins customer service at 1-800-533-1850 with questions about recall number 15V307.
- Keep ignition sources away from the seat area until the compliant seat-bottom foam is installed.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Collins technician replaces the school bus seat bottoms with foam that meets the FMVSS flammability standard. The replacement parts and labor are free under recall 15V307. If you already paid out of pocket for a related seat-bottom foam repair before the recall work, Collins has a general reimbursement plan on file for documented expenses. Bring repair paperwork and payment records to the dealer, or contact Collins customer service with the same documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 22, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| May 25, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 26, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
| May 27, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| June 25, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V307?
Recall 15V307 covers 13 2015 Collins DH500, SH40, SL408, and DE516WR school buses with seat-bottom foam that does not meet FMVSS No. 302 flammability requirements. Collins dealers will replace the affected school bus seat bottoms with compliant foam for free.
What should I do if my 2015 Collins DH500, SH40, SL408, or DE516WR is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 15V307. If it is, contact a franchised Collins dealer to schedule replacement of the affected seat bottoms. Reference recall 15V307 or Collins recall 15E032 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Collins dealers will replace the affected school bus seat bottoms with foam that meets the safety standard free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is fire spread inside the bus. If the affected seat-bottom foam is present, the seat bottom does not meet the federal flammability standard and can fail to resist ignition, increasing the risk that a fire starts or spreads when an ignition source is present.
What if I bought this Collins bus used?
The free repair still applies. Recalls follow the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2015 Collins school bus is included, then contact a franchised Collins dealer and reference recall 15V307.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V307000 |
|---|---|
| Collins customer service | 1-800-533-1850 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V307 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V307000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 1, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →