Recall 18V516 affects 155 2015-2018 Micro Bird school buses for loose seat belt anchorage plates. Repair is free at any franchised Micro Bird dealer.
Micro Bird is recalling 155 2015-2018 G5 School Bus, Mb Ii School Bus, and T-Series School Bus vehicles because a manufacturing attachment problem affects the seat belt anchorage plate. If that plate detaches in a crash, the shoulder belt cannot properly restrain a passenger and injury risk increases; Micro Bird dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The shoulder belt anchorage plate is the metal mounting point that ties the shoulder belt to the bus wall. On 2015-2018 Micro Bird G5 School Bus, Mb Ii School Bus, and T-Series School Bus models in NHTSA campaign 18V516, that plate is part of the system that holds a passenger in place during a crash. The belt depends on that wall attachment staying secure when it is loaded.
On affected buses, the plate in the lateral wall extrusion was not attached correctly during manufacturing. Some plates were found loose during inspection, and other plates that looked tight still lacked enough secure attachment. If the plate cannot hold the required force in a crash, the shoulder belt has less capacity to restrain the passenger.
There is no warning sign before failure. The belt mount defect is found by inspection, not by a noise, light, or change a passenger feels while seated.
Who's affected?
Spans 3 school bus models across the 2015-2018 model years, all tied to the same seat belt anchorage component.
| 2016 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2016 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | seat belt |
| 2016 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus | seat belt |
| 2015 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus | seat belt |
| 2015 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | seat belt |
| 2017 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | seat belt |
| 2018 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | seat belt |
| 2017 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | seat belt |
| 2018 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus | seat belt |
| 2017 Micro Bird T-Series School Bus | seat belt |
| 2015 Micro Bird G5 School Bus | seat belt |
| 2018 Micro Bird Mb Ii School Bus | seat belt |
| Units affected | 155 |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
A detached belt anchorage plate can keep the seat belt from properly restraining a passenger, increasing the risk of injury. If any belt anchor appears separated from the wall, keep that seat out of service and arrange the recall inspection and field modification promptly. Repair is free at any franchised Micro Bird dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2018 Micro Bird G5 School Bus, Mb Ii School Bus, or T-Series School Bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Micro Bird dealer to schedule the free inspection and seat-belt-anchorage repair that secures the shoulder-belt plate to the wall.
- Bring the recall notice if Micro Bird mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V516 when you call.
- Call Micro Bird customer service at 1-819-477-2012 with questions about the inspection kit, repair instructions, or dealer scheduling.
- Prioritize the repair before passenger service so the shoulder belt anchorage is inspected and fixed before the bus carries riders.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Micro Bird technician inspects the seat belt anchorage plate where the shoulder belt attaches to the bus wall. If the anchorage plate was not attached correctly, the technician completes the field modification using Micro Bird's supplied material kit and instructions. The recall repair is open now, and the inspection, field modification materials, and labor are free under the recall.
Timeline
| August 6, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 26, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V516?
Recall 18V516 covers 155 2015-2018 Micro Bird G5 School Bus, Mb Ii School Bus, and T-Series School Bus vehicles with a seat belt anchorage plate attachment defect. If the plate detaches from the wall during a crash, the shoulder belt can fail to restrain a passenger properly and increase injury risk.
What should I do if my 2015-2018 Micro Bird G5 School Bus, Mb Ii School Bus, or T-Series School Bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V516. If it is, contact Micro Bird customer service at 1-819-477-2012 or a Micro Bird service provider and reference Micro Bird recall number 18-075-CUS. The inspection, parts kit, and field modification are free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Micro Bird will provide the inspection instructions, field modification instructions, and required material kit free of charge for recall 18V516.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced shoulder-belt restraint in a crash. If the anchorage plate detaches from the wall, the belt cannot properly hold a passenger, which increases the risk of injury. Confirm the VIN and arrange the free Micro Bird recall repair.
When did the Micro Bird recall 18V516 repair start?
Micro Bird began the recall repair on September 26, 2018. For an included bus that still has an open recall, contact Micro Bird customer service at 1-819-477-2012 and reference Micro Bird recall number 18-075-CUS.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V516000 |
|---|---|
| Micro Bird customer service | 1-819-477-2012 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V516 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V516000 |
Source documents
-
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 →