Recall 18V696 affects 1,705 2011-2018 Collins School Bus vehicles for seat-back foam that fails crash-protection rules. Repair is free at any franchised Collins dealer.
Collins is recalling 1,705 2011-2018 School Bus vehicles built on Promaster chassis with CE White/HSM SB11-30" school bus seats because lower seat-back foam in the knee impact area can fail to absorb enough crash energy. That defect can increase injury risk in a crash, and Collins dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The affected 2011-2018 Collins School Bus seats use foam in the lower seat back as part of the passenger crash protection system. That lower area is where a passenger's knees or legs can strike the seat ahead in hard braking or a crash. The foam is supposed to absorb energy so the seat back meets the school bus seating protection standard.
In NHTSA campaign 18V696, the problem is the foam in that knee impact area does not absorb enough impact. Collins identified the issue in certain CE White and HSM SB11 school bus seats that are not installed in the rear row. If the bus stops hard or crashes, the lower seat back leaves unbelted occupants at a higher risk of leg injury.
There is no warning sign before failure. The seat will not make a sound, show a light, or look different to the driver before the defect matters in a crash event.
Who's affected?
Covers the same seat assembly across the 2011-2018 model years for Collins School Bus vehicles.
| 2011 Collins School Bus | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2015 Collins School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2016 Collins School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2012 Collins School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2013 Collins School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2014 Collins School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2017 Collins School Bus | seat assembly |
| 2018 Collins School Bus | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 1,705 |
| 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 absorbs too little impact energy can increase the risk of injury in a crash. The defect does not give an audible or visual warning, so confirm whether the seat model is included and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Collins dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2018 Collins School Bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Collins dealer to schedule the free seat-back foam repair that helps the lower seat back absorb crash impact.
- Bring the recall notice if Collins mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V696 when you call.
- Call Collins customer service at 1-800-533-1850, extension 424, with questions about the seat repair.
- Avoid delaying the repair. The seat foam is part of the bus's crash protection.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Collins technician installs additional foam into the seat backs covered by recall 18V696, including the lower seat back knee impact area. The repair is available now, and the added foam, parts, and labor are free under the recall. Collins has a general reimbursement plan on file for related out-of-pocket repairs paid before the recall notice. If you have already paid for a seat-back foam or crash-protection repair tied to this issue, bring documentation to the service desk or contact Collins customer service for reimbursement instructions.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 5, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 2, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| November 7, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| November 9, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 21, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V696?
Recall 18V696 covers 1,705 2011-2018 Collins School Bus vehicles built on Promaster chassis with certain CE White/HSM SB11-30 inch school bus seats. The lower seat-back foam can fail to absorb enough crash impact energy, increasing injury risk. Collins dealers install additional foam for free.
What should I do if my 2011-2018 Collins School Bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm the specific bus is included in recall 18V696. If it is, contact a Collins dealer to schedule the seat-back foam repair. Reference recall number 18V696 and Collins recall number 18e056 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Collins dealers install the additional lower seat-back foam free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for buses included in recall 18V696.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is higher injury risk during a crash. If the seat-back foam in the knee impact area does not absorb enough impact energy, passengers have less crash protection than required by FMVSS number 222.
Who can I call about the Collins seat recall repair?
Call Collins customer service at 1-800-533-1850 and ask about recall 18V696. The Collins internal recall number is 18e056. Have the bus VIN ready so the service team can confirm eligibility and direct you to the dealer repair path.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V696000 |
|---|---|
| Collins customer service | 1-800-533-1850 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V696 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V696000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (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 →