Recall 18V472 affects 1,376 2011-2018 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel school buses for seat-back foam with poor crash-impact absorption. Repair will be free once available.
Van-Con is recalling 1,376 2011-2018 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel school buses because foam in the lower seat-back knee-impact area fails to meet school-bus crash-protection requirements for impact absorption. That seat defect increases injury risk for passengers in a crash, and the Van-Con dealer repair will be free once the remedy is available.
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What's wrong?
The seats in the 2011-2018 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel school buses are built to protect passengers in a crash, including the knee impact area on the lower seat back. That foam is supposed to compress when a passenger's knees hit the seat in front, absorbing energy instead of passing the full force back into the passenger.
On the recalled buses, the foam in that lower seat-back area is too thin for the job. Testing found the knee impact area was too rigid, so the seat does not absorb enough impact during a crash. The issue applies to CE White/HSM SB11-30" standard unbelted school bus seats and SB11-30" seats with lap belts only.
There is no warning sign before failure. The seat looks normal in daily service, so identification depends on the seat type, the 30" seat-back width, and whether the seat lacks 3-point belts or child restraint inserts.
Who's affected?
The scope spans consecutive 2011-2018 model years, all tied to the same seat assembly.
| 2017 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2015 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat assembly |
| 2014 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat assembly |
| 2011 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat assembly |
| 2018 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat assembly |
| 2013 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat assembly |
| 2016 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat assembly |
| 2012 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 1,376 |
| 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?
Seat foam that fails to absorb enough impact energy increases the risk of injury in a crash. There is no audible or visual warning before this protection problem matters, so confirm whether your VIN is included and arrange the remedy when Van-Con can complete it. Repair will be free at any franchised Van-Con dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2018 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel bus is included in this recall.
- Contact Van-Con customer service at 1-732-356-8484 to confirm current timing for the free parts-kit repair that improves impact absorption in the lower seat back.
- Ask whether the bus can stay in service before the repair, and reference recall number 18V472 when you call.
- Bring the owner letter to the repair appointment if Van-Con mailed one to you.
What happens at the repair
Once the final repair opens, a Van-Con technician will install the parts kit for the affected school bus seat backs. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. Van-Con has a general reimbursement plan on file for documented owner paid repairs before the recall notice. If you already paid for a related seat back repair, contact Van-Con customer service with your repair paperwork and ask how the plan applies.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 20, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 2, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V472?
Recall 18V472 covers 1,376 2011-2018 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel school buses with certain CE White/HSM school bus seats. The lower seat-back foam can fail to absorb enough impact energy in a crash, and Van-Con will install a parts kit free of charge.
What should I do if my 2011-2018 Van-Con 33803 Dual Rear-Wheel is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 18V472. If it is, contact Van-Con or a Van-Con service location to arrange the seat parts-kit installation. Use recall number 18V472 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost, and Van-Con's remedy states that it will install the parts kit free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for vehicles included in recall 18V472.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is higher injury exposure for school bus passengers in a crash. The affected seat foam does not absorb enough impact energy in the knee-impact area of the lower seat back, so the seat fails to meet the school bus passenger seating and crash protection standard.
When were owners notified about recall 18V472?
Van-Con mailed owner notification letters on August 2, 2019. A used bus or fleet vehicle still needs a VIN check because letters do not always reach the current owner. If your VIN is included, contact Van-Con customer service at 1-732-356-8484.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V472000 |
|---|---|
| Van-Con customer service | 1-732-356-8484 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V472 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V472000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
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 →