Recall 18V842 covers 88 2016-2018 Federal Coach Spirit vehicles for observation-window glass that can shatter. Repair is free at any franchised Federal Coach dealer.
Federal Coach is recalling 88 2016-2018 Spirit vehicles because road debris can shatter the observation window above the windshield, sending glass into the driver or passenger compartment. Falling glass can raise the risk of a crash or injury; the Federal Coach dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The front observation window on the 2016-2018 Federal Coach Spirit is the glass panel mounted above the windshield. It gives the driver and passengers forward visibility through the upper front of the bus body. That glass has to stay intact when the vehicle is moving and small debris hits the front of the vehicle.
On affected Spirit vehicles, that observation window is susceptible to strikes from road debris. If a rock or similar object hits the window, the glass can shatter instead of staying contained. Broken glass can fall into the driver or passenger compartment, which is the defect behind NHTSA campaign 18V842. Federal Coach identified a replacement laminated front observation window for the repair.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem happens only when the window is struck, so an owner or driver will not have a dashboard light, sound, or change in handling before the glass breaks.
Who's affected?
The scope runs across the 2016, 2017, and 2018 Spirit model years, all tied to the same visibility component.
| 2018 Federal Coach Spirit | visibility component |
|---|---|
| 2017 Federal Coach Spirit | visibility component |
| 2016 Federal Coach Spirit | visibility component |
| Units affected | 88 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
Glass that falls into the driver or passenger compartment can increase the risk of a crash or an injury. Until the glass is replaced, drive cautiously and schedule the recall service soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Federal Coach dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2018 Federal Coach Spirit is included in this recall.
- Review the Federal Coach owner notice if you received one, then ask a franchised Federal Coach dealer whether the free repair is open for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 18V842 when you call the dealer.
- Ask about the free observation-window glass replacement that fixes the glass above the windshield that can shatter after road-debris impact.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete. Keep extra distance from traffic that throws road debris.
What happens at the repair
Federal Coach has identified the dealer fix: replace the observation window glass above the windshield. Because the remedy status is not listed as available in this source, the dealer repair will be free once available. When the repair opens, a Federal Coach technician replaces the glass covered by recall 18V842, and parts and labor are covered. Federal Coach has a general reimbursement plan on file for documented, out-of-pocket repairs tied to this issue. If you already paid for related observation-window glass work, ask the service desk how to submit your paperwork under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 28, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 7, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| January 9, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 14, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 14, 2019 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| January 14, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V842?
Recall 18V842 covers 88 2016-2018 Federal Coach Spirit vehicles with an observation window above the windshield that can shatter if road debris hits it. Glass can fall into the driver or passenger compartment, increasing crash or injury risk. Dealers replace the glass for free.
What should I do if my 2016-2018 Federal Coach Spirit is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 18V842. If it is, contact a franchised Federal Coach dealer to schedule the free glass replacement. Reference recall number 18V842 when you call, and ask the service desk how they handle this bus recall.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 18V842, the dealer replaces the observation-window glass free of charge, with parts and labor covered under the recall.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is broken glass falling into the driver or passenger compartment. If the observation window above the windshield shatters after a road-debris strike, falling glass can distract or injure occupants and increase crash risk. The fix is the free dealer glass replacement.
What if I bought my Federal Coach Spirit used?
The free repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. If you never received a recall letter, check your VIN to confirm whether your Spirit is included, then contact a franchised Federal Coach dealer and reference recall number 18V842.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V842000 |
|---|---|
| Federal Coach customer service | 1-810-724-1753 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V842 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V842000 |
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 →