Recall 18V789 covers 4,469 2013-2018 Gillig Low Floor transit buses for loose air-brake spring cage bolts. Repair is free at any franchised Gillig dealer.
Gillig is recalling 4,469 2013-2018 Low Floor transit buses equipped with disk brakes because a tightening problem with spring cage bolts on the air brakes can reduce parking brake effectiveness. Loose cage bolts can let the bus roll away in park or reduce braking if service brake air pressure is lost while moving, and Gillig dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The affected part is in the air brake system on 2013-2018 Gillig Low Floor transit buses with disk brakes. Air brakes use compressed air to apply brake force, and the parking brake uses a spring-loaded section to hold the bus when it is parked. The spring cage bolts help secure that spring assembly so the parking brake holds with the intended force.
On these buses, the spring cage bolts were not tightened to the manufacturer's specification during assembly. If those bolts are loose, the parking brake hardware does not stay clamped as designed. That reduces the parking brake's effectiveness, so the bus does not have the full holding force the system is supposed to provide when parked.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or technician should not expect a dashboard message, noise, or pedal change to confirm that the spring cage bolts are loose.
Who's affected?
Spans the 2013-2018 Low Floor line across two brake-related component groups: the air parking brake and service brake system.
| 2016 Gillig Low Floor | Air |
|---|---|
| 2016 Gillig Low Floor | brake system |
| 2013 Gillig Low Floor | Air |
| 2013 Gillig Low Floor | brake system |
| 2014 Gillig Low Floor | Air |
| 2014 Gillig Low Floor | brake system |
| 2017 Gillig Low Floor | Air |
| 2017 Gillig Low Floor | brake system |
| 2018 Gillig Low Floor | Air |
| 2018 Gillig Low Floor | brake system |
| 2015 Gillig Low Floor | Air |
| 2015 Gillig Low Floor | brake system |
| Units affected | 4,469 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 3 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
Loose spring cage bolts can let the bus roll away while parked, or reduce braking ability if service brake air pressure is lost while moving. Either condition increases crash risk. Secure the bus carefully when parked and schedule the recall work promptly. Repair is free at any franchised Gillig dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013-2018 Gillig Low Floor is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Gillig dealer to schedule the free spring-cage-bolt tightening for the air-brake parking brake.
- Bring the recall notice if Gillig mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V789 when you call.
- Avoid relying on the parking brake to hold the bus on a grade until the repair is complete.
- Call Gillig customer service at 1-510-264-5073 with questions about scheduling or repair status.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Gillig technician tightens the spring cage bolts on the air brake spring cages so the parking brake can hold with the intended force. The recall repair is free, and parts and labor are covered. If you already paid for this parking brake repair before the recall notice, Gillig has a standard reimbursement plan on file for documented expenses. Bring prior repair paperwork and payment records to the Gillig service desk, or contact Gillig customer service, so the claim can be reviewed under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 9, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 30, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| November 30, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 10, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| December 31, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V789?
Recall 18V789 covers 4,469 2013-2018 Gillig Low Floor transit buses equipped with disk brakes. The spring cage bolts on the air brakes were not tightened enough, reducing parking brake effectiveness. Gillig dealers will tighten the spring cage bolts for free.
What should I do if my 2013-2018 Gillig Low Floor is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V789. If it is, contact a Gillig dealer or Gillig customer service at 1-510-264-5073 to schedule the spring cage bolt repair. Reference recall 18V789 when you call.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Gillig will tighten the spring cage bolts free of charge through its dealer repair process.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is rollaway or reduced braking. Loose cage bolts can let the bus roll while parked, or reduce braking ability if service brake air pressure is lost while moving. Either condition increases crash risk.
When did Gillig start this recall repair?
Gillig began the recall repair on December 10, 2018. The remedy is available, so an included bus does not need to wait for a future repair launch before the spring cage bolts are tightened.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V789000 |
|---|---|
| Gillig customer service | 1-510-264-5073 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V789 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V789000 |
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 →