Recall 18V519 affects 20 2015 Garden State Double Deck Bus buses for a misplaced emergency exit. Repair is free at any franchised Garden State dealer.
Garden State is recalling 20 2015 Double Deck Bus vehicles because the roof emergency exit was placed toward the center of the passenger compartment instead of the required rear location. In an emergency, that placement can delay evacuation and increase injury risk; Garden State dealers will complete the free repair.
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 roof emergency exit on the 2015 Garden State Double Deck Bus is the hatch passengers use to get out through the roof when the normal doors or windows are blocked. It is part of the bus escape system, and FMVSS 217 requires that roof exit to be positioned in the rear of the passenger compartment for this bus.
On affected buses, the roof hatch was installed toward the center of the passenger compartment instead of the rear. Garden State had read the center-location language as applying to this bus, then determined that part of the rule applied to school buses. The remedy is to add another exit hatch so the bus has the required rear roof exit.
An owner or operator will not feel a driving symptom because the problem is built into the bus structure. There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is found by inspecting where the roof emergency exits are located.
Who's affected?
| 2015 Garden State Double Deck Bus | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 20 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2015 Garden State Double Deck Bus is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the emergency exit is in the wrong location, passengers can face a delay when leaving the vehicle during an emergency. That delay increases injury risk because people need a clear exit path from the lower level. Treat any included Double Deck Bus as needing prompt dealer attention. Repair is free at any franchised Garden State dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015 Garden State Double Deck Bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Garden State dealer to schedule the free rear emergency-exit hatch installation that gives passengers a rear path from the lower level to the upper level.
- Call Garden State customer service at 1-888-800-3779 with questions, and reference recall number 18V519 when you call.
- Bring the recall notice if Garden State sent one. If not, give the dealer recall number 18V519.
- Keep the bus out of passenger service until the emergency-exit hatch repair is complete if the current exit layout would delay emergency evacuation.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Garden State technician installs an additional emergency exit hatch in the rear portion of the lower level, with the hatch opening to the upper level. The recall repair is free, and parts and labor are covered. Garden State has not provided an owner notification schedule, so contact customer service if you need the repair status before a letter arrives. If you already paid for this same hatch repair before the recall notice, ask how Garden State's general reimbursement plan handles documented expenses.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 6, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 5, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V519?
Recall 18V519 covers 20 2015 Garden State Double Deck Buses with a roof emergency exit placed toward the center of the passenger compartment instead of the rear. Garden State dealers will install an additional rear emergency exit hatch for free.
What should I do if my 2015 Garden State Double Deck Bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V519. If it is, contact Garden State customer service at 1-888-800-3779 or a franchised Garden State dealer to arrange the additional rear emergency exit hatch installation.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Garden State will install the additional emergency exit hatch free of charge. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost, and the remedy text confirms that parts and labor are covered.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is delayed exit during an emergency. If the roof emergency exit is in the wrong location, passengers have less direct access to an exit path, which raises injury risk during evacuation. The repair adds an emergency exit hatch in the rear portion of the lower level.
When will Garden State notify owners?
Garden State has not provided an owner-notification schedule in the remedy text for recall 18V519. Owners do not need to wait for a letter before checking the VIN and contacting Garden State customer service or a franchised Garden State dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V519000 |
|---|---|
| Garden State customer service | 1-888-800-3779 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V519 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V519000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →