Recall 18V474 covers 1,357 2011-2018 Micro Bird G5 School Bus, Mb Ii School Bus, and T-Series School Bus vehicles for weak seatback foam. Repair is free at any franchised Micro Bird dealer.
Micro Bird is recalling 1,357 2011-2018 G5 School Bus, Mb Ii School Bus, and T-Series School Bus vehicles because seat-back foam in the knee impact area fails to meet school bus crash-protection requirements. The defect can increase injury risk in a crash, and the Micro Bird dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The recalled 2011-2018 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus, G5 School Bus, and Mb Ii School Bus models use CE White/HSM SB11-30 series school bus seats. The lower seatback has a knee impact area, the padded section a passenger's knees can strike when the body moves forward in a crash. That foam is supposed to absorb part of the impact and help the seat protect passengers.
On affected buses, the foam in that lower seatback area is too thin. Because it does not absorb enough energy, the seat does not meet the required school bus passenger seating and crash-protection standard. The issue is in the seat construction, not in driver behavior or normal seat adjustment.
There is no warning sign before failure. The seat can look normal in daily use, so the VIN and seat configuration decide whether this recall applies.
Who's affected?
Covers the T-Series School Bus, G5 School Bus, and Mb Ii School Bus across the 2011-2018 model years, all tied to the seat assembly.
| 2016 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2016 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2016 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2011 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2012 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2011 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2013 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2015 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2013 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2017 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2018 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2017 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2015 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2014 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2012 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2018 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2015 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2013 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2018 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2017 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2014 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2011 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2012 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2014 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 1,357 |
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 absorbs too little impact energy can leave occupants with less crash protection and increase the risk of injury in a crash. Confirm whether your VIN is included and schedule the seatback foam insert when the repair is available. Repair will be free at any franchised Micro Bird dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2018 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus, G5 School Bus, or Mb Ii School Bus is included in this recall.
- Contact Micro Bird customer service at 1-819-477-2012 if you did not receive an owner notice or need repair status for recall number 18V474.
- Ask a franchised Micro Bird dealer about the free EPS foam insert that helps the lower seatback absorb crash impact.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and give the dealer recall number 18V474 when you schedule service.
- Limit bus service until the seatback foam repair is complete, especially trips carrying passengers.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Micro Bird technician inserts an additional piece of expanded polystyrene foam into the seatback knee impact area on the covered school bus seats. That added EPS foam is meant to improve how the lower seatback absorbs impact in a crash. Micro Bird has identified the repair, but confirm availability with the dealer before scheduling the bus. The dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall.
Timeline
| July 18, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 30, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| August 31, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| September 10, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 7, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V474?
Recall 18V474 covers 1,357 2011-2018 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus, G5 School Bus, and Mb Ii School Bus vehicles with certain CE White/HSM SB11-30" school bus seats. The lower seatback foam does not absorb enough impact energy under FMVSS 222, increasing injury risk in a crash.
What should I do if my 2011-2018 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus, G5 School Bus, or Mb Ii School Bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm the specific school bus is included in recall 18V474. If it is, contact a franchised Micro Bird dealer to schedule the seatback foam insert repair. Reference Micro Bird recall number 18-074-SUS or call Micro Bird customer service at 1-819-477-2012.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Micro Bird dealers insert an additional expanded polystyrene foam piece into the seatback free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for vehicles included in recall 18V474.
What is the safety risk in recall 18V474?
The safety risk is higher injury risk in a crash. In affected seats, the lower seatback knee impact area does not absorb enough impact energy, so passengers have less crash protection than FMVSS 222 requires. The dealer repair adds foam inside the seatback.
When did Micro Bird start this recall repair?
Micro Bird sent interim owner notices on September 12, 2018, and the recall repair began December 7, 2018. If the bus is included, a Micro Bird dealer performs the foam insert repair free of charge.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V474000 |
|---|---|
| Micro Bird customer service | 1-819-477-2012 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V474 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V474000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →