Recall 18V821 affects 187 2019-2020 Ic Bus Cesb school buses for a misrouted brake air line. Repair is free at any franchised Ic Bus dealer.
Ic Bus is recalling 187 2019-2020 Cesb school buses because the brake air line tube to the left brake modulator valve has an incorrect routing. A kinked line can make the bus pull right during braking or keep the anti-lock brakes from working properly, which increases crash risk; Ic Bus dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
On 2019-2020 Ic Bus Cesb school buses with the 4-channel antilock brake, stability control, and traction control package, an air line tube carries compressed air to the left brake modulator valve. That valve helps meter air pressure to the brake on that side so the antilock brake system can control wheel lockup during hard braking.
In affected buses, the tube was routed with too little control around its bend. The line did not consistently stay clipped in the intended position, so the bend radius was too tight and the tube can kink. A kink restricts air flow to the left modulator valve. When that happens, the bus can pull to the right while braking, and the antilock brakes can stop working as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver first notices the problem when the bus pulls right during braking or the brake system does not respond normally.
Who's affected?
Covers the 2019 and 2020 model years, both tied to the same brake system component.
| 2020 Ic Bus Cesb | brake system |
|---|---|
| 2019 Ic Bus Cesb | brake system |
| Units affected | 187 |
| 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 your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
A bus that pulls to the right during braking, or has improper ABS function, gives the driver less control when stopping and increases the risk of a crash. If braking feels uneven, slow down, avoid hard stops, and schedule the recall repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ic Bus dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 Ic Bus Cesb is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer to schedule the free brake-air-line rerouting and kinked-tube replacement that fixes the brake pull and ABS problem.
- Bring the recall notice if Ic Bus sent one. If not, reference recall number 18V821 when you call.
- Drive only as needed until the repair is complete, and watch for the bus pulling right during braking or ABS problems.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, the Ic Bus technician reroutes the brake air line tube to the left brake modulator valve and replaces any tube that is kinked. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. Navistar's reimbursement plan applies to qualifying repairs completed before the recall notice. If you already paid for a related air line or brake modulator repair, follow the reimbursement instructions in the customer notification and keep the repair paperwork for the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 20, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 20, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 18, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| January 18, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 18, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V821?
Recall 18V821 covers 187 2019-2020 Ic Bus Cesb school buses with feature code 04AZS. The brake air line tube to the left brake modulator valve was routed incorrectly, which can kink the line, pull the bus right during braking, or affect ABS operation.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 Ic Bus Cesb is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V821. If it is, contact a franchised Ic Bus dealer to schedule the air line tube rerouting. The dealer will also replace any kinked tube for free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Navistar's remedy says dealers will reroute the air line tube and replace any kinked tube free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced braking control. If the air line tube kinks, the bus can pull to the right during braking or the anti-lock brakes can fail to work correctly, increasing crash risk.
What warning signs should I watch for?
Watch for the bus pulling to the right when braking or ABS behavior that feels abnormal. Those signs match the defect described in recall 18V821. If your VIN is included, schedule the free dealer repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V821000 |
|---|---|
| Ic Bus customer service | 1-800-448-7825 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V821 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V821000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →