Recall 18V037 affects 27 2016-2018 Van-Con Wheelchair Lift Bus school buses for uneven wheelchair-lift platforms. Repair is free at any franchised Van-Con dealer.
Van-Con is recalling 27 2016-2018 Wheelchair Lift Bus school buses because the wheelchair lift does not shut off before the platform becomes too uneven. An uneven lift platform can cause a fall and increase injury risk, and Van-Con dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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 wheelchair lift on 2016-2018 Van-Con Wheelchair Lift Bus school buses is the powered platform that raises and lowers a wheelchair between the ground and the bus floor. Its threshold warning system watches the platform position and is supposed to stop lift operation when the platform is too uneven for the allowed range.
On affected buses, the threshold warning device is out of adjustment. During testing, the sensor activated between 28mm and 36mm instead of within the required 25mm range. That means the lift can keep operating past the allowed uneven position before it shuts down. The repair is an adjustment to the switch so the threshold warning system lines up with the required setting.
There is no warning sign before failure. A bus operator or attendant should not rely on a visible cue from the lift before the threshold warning system misses the required shutoff point.
Who's affected?
Spans the 2016, 2017, and 2018 model years for the same wheelchair-lift equipment category.
| 2016 Van-Con Wheelchair Lift Bus | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2017 Van-Con Wheelchair Lift Bus | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2018 Van-Con Wheelchair Lift Bus | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 27 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
An uneven lift platform can cause a person using the wheelchair lift to fall, increasing the risk of injury. Use extra care around the lift and schedule the threshold warning system inspection and adjustment soon. Repair is free at any franchised Van-Con dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2018 Van-Con Wheelchair Lift Bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Van-Con dealer to schedule the free threshold warning system inspection and adjustment for the wheelchair lift.
- Bring the recall notice if Van-Con mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V037 when you call.
- Use extra care with the wheelchair lift until the inspection is complete, and stop using it if the platform does not stay level.
- Call Van-Con customer service at 1-732-356-8484 with questions about the free repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Van-Con technician inspects the wheelchair lift threshold warning system and adjusts it so the lift deactivates within the required unevenness limit. The inspection, adjustment, parts, and labor are free under recall 18V037. If you already paid out of pocket for this threshold warning system repair before the recall work, Van-Con's general reimbursement plan covers eligible documented expenses. Bring prior repair paperwork and receipts to the service desk so the dealer can explain the claim process.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 11, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 30, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| March 9, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| March 9, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V037?
Recall 18V037 covers 27 2016-2018 Van-Con Wheelchair Lift Bus vehicles built on Chevrolet 3500 chassis and equipped with wheelchair lifts. The lift threshold warning system can allow the platform to become too uneven before it deactivates. Van-Con dealers will inspect and adjust the system for free.
What should I do if my 2016-2018 Van-Con Wheelchair Lift Bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V037. If it is, contact a Van-Con dealer or Van-Con customer service at 1-732-356-8484 to schedule the lift threshold warning system inspection and adjustment. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Van-Con dealers will inspect the threshold warning system and adjust it as needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a fall from an uneven wheelchair lift platform. If the lift does not deactivate within the required uneven-platform limit, a passenger or attendant can lose footing during lift use, increasing injury risk. The dealer repair corrects the threshold warning system.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall repair became available on January 30, 2018. Van-Con began the recall then, and dealers can inspect the wheelchair lift threshold warning system and adjust it as needed. Reference recall 18V037 when you call for service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V037000 |
|---|---|
| Van-Con customer service | 1-732-356-8484 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V037 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V037000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →