Recall 18V648 covers 18 2016 Lion Lionc electric school buses with ceiling joints that can separate in a crash. Repair will be free once available.
Lion is recalling 18 2016 Lionc electric school buses because incorrectly assembled ceiling joints can separate in a crash. If a joint separates, occupants face a higher risk of injury, and the Lion dealer repair will be free once Lion makes the remedy available.
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 ceiling body joints on the 2016 Lion Lionc school bus connect the roof and upper body panels so the bus body stays tied together as one structure. Those joints rely on the right glue application and rivet placement. Federal school bus body joint rules, including FMVSS number 221, exist so these joints hold under crash forces.
On the affected buses, the ceiling joints were assembled incorrectly because the required work instructions were not followed. The issue involved glue placement and rivet placement during assembly. In a crash, those joints can separate instead of carrying the load through the surrounding bus body, so the bus does not meet the required school bus body joint strength standard.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner, driver, or fleet mechanic is not expected to notice a sound, looseness, warning light, or visible alert before, during, or after the condition appears.
Who's affected?
| 2016 Lion Lionc | body structure |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 18 |
| 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?
If the ceiling joint separates during a crash, it can increase the risk of injury. There is no clear warning sign before, during, or after the separation, so confirm whether your VIN is included and schedule the repair once Lion makes it available. Repair will be free at any franchised Lion dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016 Lion Lionc is included in this recall.
- Watch for Lion's owner notice before scheduling, or call Lion customer service if you never received one.
- Contact a franchised Lion dealer after Lion confirms the repair is open.
- Schedule the free rivet-and-glue repair that secures the ceiling joints so they do not separate in a crash.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 18V648 when you call.
What happens at the repair
Lion has not listed the final dealer repair as available yet. The planned repair is for a Lion technician to secure the ceiling body joints with rivets and glue. The dealer repair will be free once Lion opens it. If you already paid for a related body joint repair before the recall notice, Lion's general reimbursement plan covers eligible documented expenses. Keep your repair paperwork and contact Lion customer service to ask how to submit the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| September 20, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 1, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| October 1, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| October 1, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| October 8, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 1, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V648?
Recall 18V648 covers 18 2016 Lion Lionc electric school buses with ceiling joints that were assembled incorrectly. In a crash, those joints can separate and increase injury risk. Lion dealers install rivets and glue to secure the joints for free.
What should I do if my 2016 Lion Lionc is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 18V648. If it is, contact a franchised Lion dealer to schedule the ceiling-joint repair. Reference recall number 18V648 and Lion recall number 2018RECALL01 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Lion's remedy says dealers will install rivets and glue to secure the ceiling joints free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is higher injury risk in a crash. The recalled 2016 Lion Lionc buses fail to meet FMVSS 221 for school bus body joint strength because the ceiling joints can separate during a crash.
When did Lion start this recall repair?
Lion's recall repair began on November 1, 2018. If your VIN is included and the repair has not been completed, call Lion customer service at 1-855-546-6706 or a franchised Lion dealer and reference recall 18V648.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V648000 |
|---|---|
| Lion customer service | 1-855-546-6706 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V648 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V648000 |
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 →