Recall 18V798 covers 76 2017-2018 Champion transit buses with foldaway seats that fail to lock. Repair is free at any franchised Champion dealer.
Champion is recalling 76 2017-2018 Challenger, Defender, Lf Transport, G-Force, and Impulse transit buses because Freedman GO-ES Foldaway seat cushions can fail to stay locked under crash or sudden-stop loads. If the seat back moves in a crash, the occupant faces increased injury risk, and Champion dealers will complete the free repair.
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 Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seat in affected 2017-2018 Champion Lf Transport, Challenger, G-Force, Impulse, and Defender transit buses is designed to move between a stowed position and an upright seating position. When it is upright, the seat cushion and belt anchor points need to lock solidly so the seating system can hold an occupant during a sudden stop or crash.
The problem starts inside the seat frame. If the back frame weldment is too narrow and is assembled to the seat base weldment, it deforms the dump mechanism, which is the latch system that lets the foldaway seat move and lock. When that mechanism is distorted, the back cushion can rotate into the upright position without staying locked under load.
The warning sign is the lock action. When the back cushion is moved from stowed to upright, there needs to be an audible click, and the mechanism handle should rotate downward. There is no visual difference between a recalled GO-ES Foldaway Seat and a repaired seat.
Who's affected?
Covers Lf Transport, Challenger, G-Force, Impulse, and Defender buses across the 2017 and 2018 model years, all tied to the seat assembly.
| 2017 Champion Lf Transport | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2017 Champion Challenger | seat assembly |
| 2017 Goshen G-Force | seat assembly |
| 2017 Goshen Impulse | seat assembly |
| 2018 Champion Challenger | seat assembly |
| 2018 Champion Defender | seat assembly |
| 2017 Champion Defender | seat assembly |
| 2018 Goshen Impulse | seat assembly |
| 2018 Champion Lf Transport | seat assembly |
| 2018 Goshen G-Force | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 76 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no 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?
If the seat back moves during a crash, the seat occupant has an increased risk of injury. When raising the foldaway seat, listen for an audible click and confirm the handle rotates downward into the locked position. If it does not lock, use another seat and schedule service soon. Repair is free at any franchised Champion dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017-2018 Champion Challenger, Defender, Lf Transport, G-Force, or Impulse bus is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Champion dealer to schedule the free Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seat inspection and repair that fixes the seat-back lock issue.
- Bring the recall notice if Champion mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V798 when you call.
- Avoid using the foldaway seat for passengers until the dealer confirms the seat back locks correctly under load.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Champion technician inspects the Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seat and repairs the foldaway seat so the back cushion locks into place when moved from stowed to upright. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. If you've already paid for repairs tied to this recall, Freedman will reimburse the repair cost, including parts and labor. Contact Freedman Customer Service to start the reimbursement request.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 12, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 26, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| December 3, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 3, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 19, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V798?
Recall 18V798 covers 76 2017-2018 Champion Lf Transport, Challenger, G-Force, Impulse, and Defender transit buses with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats. The seat cushion can fail to stay locked under load, which violates federal seating and seat belt anchorage standards.
What should I do if my 2017-2018 Champion Lf Transport, Challenger, G-Force, Impulse, or Defender is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V798. If it is, contact a franchised Champion dealer to schedule the foldaway-seat inspection and repair. Reference recall number 18V798 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Champion dealers will inspect and repair the affected Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seat free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 18V798?
The safety risk is occupant injury during a crash. If the foldaway seat back moves under load, the person seated there has an increased risk of injury. The repair path is an inspection and seat repair at a Champion dealer.
What if I bought this Champion bus used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your bus is included, then call a Champion dealer with recall number 18V798.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V798000 |
|---|---|
| Champion customer service | 1-810-724-1753 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V798 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V798000 |
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 →