Recall 18V796 affects 864 2015-2018 Coach And Equipment Phoenix and Metro Lite buses for foldaway seats that fail to lock. Freedman Seating repairs them free.
Coach And Equipment is recalling 864 2015-2018 Phoenix and Metro Lite transit buses because certain Freedman GO-ES Foldaway seat cushions can fail to stay locked when moved from stowed to upright under load. If the seat back moves in a crash or sudden stop, the occupant faces increased injury risk, and Coach And Equipment dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seat in 2015-2018 Coach And Equipment Phoenix and Metro Lite buses is designed to fold away, then lock back into an upright seating position. When the back seat cushion is rotated up from the stowed position, the locking mechanism is supposed to hold the cushion in place when a passenger sits down or the bus stops suddenly.
On these buses, the seat back frame weldment is too narrow. That means the seat cushion does not lock as designed after it is moved into the upright position. Under load, including a sudden stop or crash, the cushion can shift instead of staying locked where it belongs.
The warning sign is mechanical and audible. When the seat locks into position, listen for the click from the dump mechanism, which is the latch system that secures the foldaway seat. If there is no audible click, the seat has not locked correctly.
Who's affected?
Covers the Phoenix and Metro Lite model lines across 2015-2018, with the same seat assembly component listed for each.
| 2017 Coach And Equipment Phoenix | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2016 Coach And Equipment Phoenix | seat assembly |
| 2018 Coach And Equipment Phoenix | seat assembly |
| 2018 Coach And Equipment Metro Lite | seat assembly |
| 2015 Coach And Equipment Metro Lite | seat assembly |
| 2015 Coach And Equipment Phoenix | seat assembly |
| 2016 Coach And Equipment Metro Lite | seat assembly |
| 2017 Coach And Equipment Metro Lite | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 864 |
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 seat back moves in a crash, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury. When locking the foldaway seat into position, listen for the audible click from the dump mechanism. If it does not click, schedule service soon. Repair is free at any franchised Coach And Equipment dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2018 Coach And Equipment Phoenix or Metro Lite is included in this recall.
- Contact Coach And Equipment customer service at 1-800-724-8464 to schedule the free Freedman GO-ES foldaway-seat repair that keeps the seat back locked under load.
- Bring the recall notice if Coach And Equipment sent one. If not, reference recall number 18V796 when you call.
- Avoid using the affected foldaway seat until the repair is complete, especially for passengers who rely on that seat during travel.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Coach And Equipment technician works with Freedman Seating to repair the GO-ES foldaway seat so the back seat cushion locks properly when moved from the stowed position to upright. The recall repair is free. If you've already paid for this seat repair, Freedman reimburses the cost at $50 per seat. Bring the repair invoice or other documentation to the service desk, or contact Coach And Equipment customer service for the reimbursement process.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 12, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 26, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| November 26, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| November 26, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 7, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V796?
Recall 18V796 covers 864 2015-2018 Coach And Equipment Phoenix and Metro Lite transit buses with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats. The seat back cushion can fail to stay locked under load during a crash or sudden stop. Freedman Seating will repair the seat for free.
What should I do if my 2015-2018 Coach And Equipment Phoenix or Metro Lite is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V796. If it is, contact Coach And Equipment customer service at 1-800-724-8464 and ask how to arrange the Freedman Seating foldaway seat repair. Reference Freedman recall number 18E-076 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost. For recall 18V796, Freedman Seating will repair the affected GO-ES Foldaway Seat free of charge after Coach And Equipment confirms the vehicle is included.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is occupant injury in a crash or sudden stop. If the foldaway seat back moves under load, the seated passenger has less protection from the seat structure. The repair fixes the seat locking issue and is free for included buses.
When did the repair become available?
The recall repair began November 26, 2018. Coach And Equipment notified owners, and Freedman Seating repairs the affected foldaway seats free of charge. If you did not receive a notice, check your VIN and call Coach And Equipment customer service with recall 18V796.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V796000 |
|---|---|
| Coach And Equipment customer service | 1-800-724-8464 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V796 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V796000 |
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 →