Recall 18V799 covers 38 2016-2019 Starcraft Bus buses with foldaway seats that fail to lock. Repair is free at a franchised Starcraft Bus dealer.
Starcraft Bus is recalling 38 2016-2019 Allstar, Starlite, Senator Ii, and Starquest transit buses because certain Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats can fail to stay locked under load. In a crash or sudden stop, a moving seat back raises the injury risk for the occupant, and Starcraft Bus dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seat in these 2016-2019 Starcraft Bus Senator Ii, Allstar, Starlite, and Starquest buses is designed to fold away, then lock when the back cushion is rotated upright for use. Once locked, the seat and belt anchor points are supposed to hold the occupant in the proper position during normal travel, a sudden stop, or a crash.
The problem starts in the seat frame. If the back frame weldment is too narrow when it is assembled to the seat base weldment, it can deform the dump mechanism, the latch system that controls the folding back cushion. A deformed mechanism can fail to lock the back cushion in its upright position. Under load, the cushion can over-rotate past the intended use position instead of staying locked.
Before using the seat, listen and look for the locking action. The mechanism should make an audible click, and the handle should rotate downward when the back cushion reaches the upright position.
Who's affected?
Includes Senator Ii, Allstar, Starlite, and Starquest buses across 2016-2019, all tied to the seat assembly.
| 2017 Starcraft Bus Senator Ii | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2016 Starcraft Bus Allstar | seat assembly |
| 2017 Starcraft Starlite | seat assembly |
| 2018 Starcraft Bus Allstar | seat assembly |
| 2019 Starcraft Bus Starquest | seat assembly |
| 2018 Starcraft Bus Starlite | seat assembly |
| 2017 Starcraft Bus Allstar | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 38 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 2 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?
In NHTSA campaign 18V799, the risk is seat movement during a crash: if the seat back moves, the person in that seat faces a higher injury risk. Before using a foldaway seat, listen for the locking click and confirm the handle rotates downward into position. Schedule the recall repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Starcraft Bus dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2019 Starcraft Bus Senator Ii, Allstar, Starlite, or Starquest is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Starcraft Bus dealer to schedule the free Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seat repair that keeps the seat cushion locked under load.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 18V799 when you call.
- Avoid using the affected foldaway seat until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Starcraft Bus technician repairs the Freedman GO-ES foldaway seat so the cushion locks correctly when moved from the stowed position to the upright position. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Freedman reimburses repair costs tied to this recall, including parts and labor, at no cost to the vehicle owner. If you already paid for a related foldaway seat repair, keep your repair paperwork and contact Freedman customer service about reimbursement.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 12, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 12, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| November 12, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 4, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| December 22, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V799?
Recall 18V799 covers 38 2016-2019 Starcraft Bus Senator Ii, Allstar, Starlite, and Starquest buses with Freedman GO-ES foldaway seats. The seat cushion can fail to stay locked under crash or sudden-stop loads. Freedman Seating will repair the seat for free.
What should I do if my 2016-2019 Starcraft Bus Senator Ii, Allstar, Starlite, or Starquest is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V799. If it is, contact a franchised Starcraft Bus dealer or the service contact listed for this recall to arrange the Freedman foldaway-seat repair. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the remedy for recall 18V799 says Freedman Seating will repair the foldaway seat free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is occupant injury in a crash. If the foldaway seat back moves under load, the person in that seat has less protection from the seating system and seat belt anchorages. The recall repair fixes the affected seat hardware for free.
What if I bought this Starcraft Bus used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recalls follow the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to see whether your specific bus is included in recall 18V799, then reference the recall number when you contact the dealer or service desk.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V799000 |
|---|---|
| Starcraft Bus customer service | 1-574-642-3112 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V799 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V799000 |
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 →