Recall 18V782 affects 475 2015-2018 Ford Transit vehicles with foldaway seats that do not remain locked under load. Repair is free at a franchised Ford dealer.
Recall 18V782 covers 475 2015-2018 Ford Transit vehicles equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats because the back seat cushion can fail to stay locked when loaded in a crash or sudden stop. The defect increases injury risk for the seat occupant if the seat back moves, and Ford dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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 GO-ES Foldaway Seat in 2015-2018 Ford Transit vans is built to move between a stowed position and an upright passenger seat. When it is upright, the seat cushion latch is supposed to hold the cushion in place so the seat supports the passenger during normal driving and during a sudden stop.
On the affected vans, improper manufacturing by Freedman Seating Company left the foldaway seat with a cushion that does not stay locked under load. The problem appears when the back seat cushion is rotated from stowed to upright. In a sudden stop or crash, the cushion can shift instead of staying secured, so the seat does not meet the seating-system safety standard. The repair uses the Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Repair Kit to correct the affected seat hardware.
There is no warning sign before failure. A seat that looks upright is not proof that the cushion latch will hold under crash or sudden-stop load.
Who's affected?
Included Transit vans span 4 model years, all tied to the seat assembly.
| 2018 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2017 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
| 2015 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
| 2016 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 475 |
| 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 van is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the foldaway seat back moves during a crash, the seat occupant has an increased injury risk. There is no warning sign to rely on before a crash. If your VIN is included, schedule the inspection and repair promptly. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2018 Ford Transit is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free foldaway-seat inspection and repair that keeps the seat cushion locked in the upright position.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and reference recall number 18V782 when you call.
- Keep passengers out of the foldaway seat until the dealer confirms the seat locks correctly under load.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician inspects the Freedman GO-ES foldaway seat and repairs the seat so the back cushion stays locked when moved from stowed to upright. Parts and labor are free under recall 18V782. Ford has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for the same foldaway-seat repair. If you have prior repair paperwork, ask the dealer service desk how to submit documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 6, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 15, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| November 15, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| November 26, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| December 6, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V782?
Recall 18V782 covers 475 2015-2018 Ford Transit vehicles equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats. The seat cushion can fail to stay locked when loaded during a crash or sudden stop, increasing injury risk for the seat occupant.
What should I do if my 2015-2018 Ford Transit is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific van is included in recall 18V782. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the foldaway-seat inspection and repair. Reference recall number 18V782 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost, and the campaign remedy says dealers will inspect and repair the foldaway seat free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for included 2015-2018 Ford Transit vehicles.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is occupant injury during a crash or sudden stop. If the foldaway seat back moves under load, the person sitting there has less protection from the seating system. The dealer repair addresses the seat-locking problem at no cost.
What if I bought my Ford Transit used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2015-2018 Ford Transit is included, then give recall number 18V782 to the dealer service desk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V782000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-508-222-2272 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V782 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V782000 |
Source documents
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 →