Recall 18V719 covers 877 2011-2018 Trans Tech Sst and ST Aero school buses for seat foam with low impact absorption. Repair will be free once available.
Trans Tech is recalling 877 2011-2018 Sst and ST Aero school buses because the lower seat back knee-impact foam fails to meet school bus crash-protection requirements. That defect can increase injury risk for passengers in a crash, and the dealer repair will be free once Trans Tech makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The school bus seats in 2011-2018 Trans Tech Sst and ST Aero buses are built to help protect passengers during a crash. The lower seat back has a knee impact area, a padded section meant to absorb force when a passenger's knees or legs strike the seat in front.
On these buses, the foam in that lower seat-back area does not absorb enough impact. The issue traces to the HSM Solutions and CE White school bus seats used in the buses, including SB11-26 inch and SB11-30 inch seat series. In a crash, that weaker energy absorption gives passengers less leg protection than the school bus seating standard requires.
There is no warning sign before a crash event. HSM reported no audible or visible warning that the seat foam has this defect, so the listed seat models are treated as needing repair.
Who's affected?
Spans the Sst and ST Aero buses across the 2011-2018 model years, all tied to the same seat assembly.
| 2017 Trans Tech Sst | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2012 Trans Tech Sst | seat assembly |
| 2018 Trans Tech Sst | seat assembly |
| 2014 Trans Tech ST Aero | seat assembly |
| 2015 Trans Tech ST Aero | seat assembly |
| 2017 Trans Tech ST Aero | seat assembly |
| 2011 Trans Tech ST Aero | seat assembly |
| 2016 Trans Tech Sst | seat assembly |
| 2015 Trans Tech Sst | seat assembly |
| 2014 Trans Tech Sst | seat assembly |
| 2013 Trans Tech Sst | seat assembly |
| 2011 Trans Tech Sst | seat assembly |
| 2018 Trans Tech ST Aero | seat assembly |
| 2016 Trans Tech ST Aero | seat assembly |
| 2013 Trans Tech ST Aero | seat assembly |
| 2012 Trans Tech ST Aero | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 877 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
Seat foam that does not absorb enough impact energy can increase injury risk in a crash. There is no audible or visual warning before the defect matters, so confirm the VIN and schedule the padding repair soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Trans Tech dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2018 Trans Tech Sst or ST Aero school bus is included in this recall.
- Wait for Trans Tech's owner notice if you have not received one, then contact a franchised Trans Tech dealer before scheduling service.
- Call Trans Tech customer service at 1-845-988-0419 with questions about repair timing.
- Reference recall number 18V719 when you call the dealer or Trans Tech customer service.
- Ask about the free styrene-strip padding repair that adds protection to the lower seat-back knee-impact area.
- Use extra care carrying passengers until the seat-padding repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Trans Tech technician installs a styrene strip in the lower seat back knee impact area to add padding. Because this remedy is still listed as under development, do not assume the final dealer repair is open for scheduling until Trans Tech confirms availability. The dealer repair will be free once available. Trans Tech has a general reimbursement plan on file, so owners who already paid for a related repair should ask customer service how to submit documentation for review.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 12, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 16, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| November 16, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| November 16, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| November 23, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V719?
Recall 18V719 covers 877 2011-2018 Trans Tech Sst and ST Aero school buses with certain CE White/HSM school bus seats. The lower seat-back foam does not absorb enough knee impact energy in a crash, which can increase injury risk. Dealers install added padding for free.
What should I do if my 2011-2018 Trans Tech Sst or ST Aero is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 18V719. If it is, contact a franchised Trans Tech dealer to arrange the seat padding repair. You can also call Trans Tech customer service at 1-845-988-0419 and reference recall 18E-056.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost. For this recall, Trans Tech dealers install a styrene strip for added lower seat-back padding free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is higher injury risk during a crash. The recalled seats have lower seat-back foam that does not absorb enough knee impact energy, so the seat does not meet the school bus passenger seating and crash protection standard cited in recall 18V719.
What if I bought this Trans Tech bus used?
The free repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2011-2018 Trans Tech Sst or ST Aero is included, then give the dealer recall number 18V719 when you schedule service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V719000 |
|---|---|
| Trans Tech customer service | 1-845-988-0419 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V719 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V719000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (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 →