Recall 18V813 covers 62 2015-2018 Arboc Spirit transit buses for foldaway seats that can unlock. Repair will be free once available.
Arboc is recalling 62 2015-2018 Spirit Of Freedom, Spirit Of Mobility, and Spirit Of Independence transit buses because certain Freedman GO-ES Foldaway seat cushions can fail to stay locked when loaded in a crash or sudden stop. If the seat back moves in a crash, the occupant faces increased injury risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seat in affected 2015-2018 Arboc Spirit Of Independence, Spirit Of Mobility, and Spirit Of Freedom buses is designed to move between a stowed position and an upright seating position. When upright, the cushion and seat back must lock in place so the passenger stays supported during normal driving and during a sudden stop.
The problem is in the seat back frame weldment, the welded frame that supports the back cushion and locking hardware. Freedman reported that this frame was built too narrow on the recalled seats. That narrow frame can deform the dump mechanism, the release and locking linkage that lets the cushion fold and then hold position. When the cushion is rotated upright, the lock can fail under crash or sudden-stop loads.
There is no warning sign before failure. A seat can appear ready for use after being moved upright, but the cushion still fails to stay locked when it is loaded.
Who's affected?
Spans three Spirit models across four model years, all tied to the seat assembly.
| 2017 Arboc Spirit Of Independence | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2015 Arboc Spirit Of Independence | seat assembly |
| 2015 Arboc Spirit Of Mobility | seat assembly |
| 2017 Arboc Spirit Of Mobility | seat assembly |
| 2017 Arboc Spirit Of Freedom | seat assembly |
| 2018 Arboc Spirit Of Independence | seat assembly |
| 2018 Arboc Specialty Vehicles Spirit Of Freedom | seat assembly |
| 2016 Arboc Spirit Of Mobility | seat assembly |
| 2018 Arboc Specialty Vehicles Spirit Of Mobility | seat assembly |
| 2016 Arboc Spirit Of Independence | seat assembly |
| 2015 Arboc Spirit Of Freedom | seat assembly |
| 2016 Arboc Spirit Of Freedom | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 62 |
| 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 bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
If a recalled foldaway seat back moves during a crash, the occupant faces a higher risk of injury. No warning sign is listed, so confirm the VIN and arrange the repair rather than waiting for a symptom. Repair will be free at any franchised Arboc dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2018 Arboc Spirit Of Independence, Spirit Of Mobility, or Spirit Of Freedom bus is included in this recall.
- Watch for the owner notice from Arboc if you have not received it, then contact Freedman for repair instructions.
- Call Freedman customer service at 1-800-443-4540 and reference recall number 18V813 when you ask about the free foldaway-seat repair.
- Avoid using the affected Freedman GO-ES foldaway seat until the seat cushion lock repair is complete.
- Bring the recall notice and any service paperwork when the bus goes in for the seat repair.
What happens at the repair
Arboc has directed owners to contact Freedman for the foldaway seat repair at no charge. Because the remedy status is not listed as available here, treat the final repair path as one to confirm before scheduling. The known repair concerns the Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seat, especially the foldaway seat back cushion and dump mechanism that can fail to stay locked under load. Once the final dealer repair is available, an Arboc service contact will handle the covered seat repair free under recall 18V813. Call the service desk with the seat part number if you have it.
Timeline
| November 16, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 19, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| November 19, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| November 21, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 29, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V813?
Recall 18V813 covers 62 2015-2018 Arboc Spirit Of Independence, Spirit Of Mobility, and Spirit Of Freedom transit buses with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats. The seat cushion can fail to stay locked under crash or sudden-stop load. Freedman repairs the foldaway seat for free.
What should I do if my 2015-2018 Arboc Spirit Of Independence, Spirit Of Mobility, or Spirit Of Freedom is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V813. If it is, contact Freedman at 1-800-443-4540 or an Arboc service contact to arrange the free foldaway-seat repair. Reference recall number 18V813 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair to be completed at no cost to the owner. For recall 18V813, Arboc directed owners to contact Freedman for the foldaway-seat repair free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is occupant injury in a crash if the seat back moves. Recall 18V813 concerns Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats where the seat cushion can fail to stay locked after it is rotated from the stowed position to the upright position. The free repair addresses the seat locking issue.
When did owner repairs begin?
The recall repair began November 29, 2018. Arboc notified owners and directed them to contact Freedman for the free foldaway-seat repair. If you never received a notice, check your VIN and reference recall number 18V813 when you call.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V813000 |
|---|---|
| Arboc customer service | 1-800-443-4540 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V813 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V813000 |
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 →