Recall 19V229 covers 776 2015-2019 Ford Transit, Promaster, and Transit Connect vehicles with Freedman GO-ES seats. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
Ford recall 19V229 covers 776 2015-2019 Transit, Promaster, and Transit Connect vehicles modified with Freedman Seating GO-ES seats. When the seat cushion is moved from stowed to upright, it can fail to stay locked under crash or sudden-stop load, raising injury risk for the occupant; Ford dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The GO-ES rear seat cushion is designed to rotate from a stowed position into the upright seating position. Once it is upright, the latch mechanism is supposed to click and hold the cushion in place so the seat can support an occupant during normal driving, a sudden stop, or a crash.
On affected Transit, Promaster, and Transit Connect vans, the cushion latch can fail to stay locked when force is applied to the seat. That means the cushion can move out of position instead of staying fixed under the occupant, reducing the protection the seat is meant to provide.
Before the seat is used, move the cushion from stowed to upright and listen for the audible click that confirms the lock engaged. The locking mechanism should also rotate downward into position. If the click is missing or the mechanism does not move into place, the seat has not locked correctly.
Who's affected?
Transit, Promaster, and Transit Connect vans are grouped under the same seat assembly component.
| 2015 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2016 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
| 2017 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
| 2016 Ram Promaster | seat assembly |
| 2018 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
| 2018 Ford Transit Connect | seat assembly |
| 2019 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 776 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific van is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the seat back is not locked, it can move during a crash and increase the occupant's risk of injury. When raising the cushion, listen for the click that confirms the locking mechanism is engaged and watch that the mechanism rotates downward. Schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Ford dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2019 Ford Transit, Promaster, or Transit Connect is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Ford dealer to schedule the free Freedman GO-ES seat repair kit that keeps the back seat cushion locked under load.
- Call Freedman Seating customer service at 1-800-443-4540 if the dealer needs the repair kit or installation instructions.
- Bring the recall notice if TransitWorks sent one. If not, reference recall number 19V229 when you call.
- Avoid using the affected GO-ES seat until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
TransitWorks has started this available remedy. Follow the owner notice instructions and contact Freedman Seating or TransitWorks so Freedman can facilitate the seat inspection and provide the Recall Parts Kit. A Ford technician installs the kit to address the GO-ES seat cushion lock issue. The recall repair is covered, and Freedman Seating's reimbursement plan covers repair costs, including parts and labor, at $50 per seat. Keep any repair invoice or service paperwork so the reimbursement request matches the repair performed.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 22, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 19, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| December 19, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 7, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V229?
Recall 19V229 covers 776 2015-2019 Ford Transit, Promaster, and Transit Connect vehicles modified with Freedman Seating GO-ES seats. The back seat cushion can fail to stay locked when moved from stowed to upright, increasing injury risk for the seat occupant in a crash or sudden stop.
What should I do if my 2015-2019 Ford Transit, Promaster, or Transit Connect is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 19V229. If it is, contact Freedman Seating at 1-800-443-4540 and ask for the repair kit instructions. Have recall number 19V229 ready when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall remedy to be provided at no cost to the owner. TransitWorks instructed owners to contact Freedman Seating for the GO-ES seat repair kit, and the recall remedy is tied to NHTSA campaign 19V229.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is occupant injury in a crash or sudden stop. If the GO-ES seat back moves under load, the person sitting there has less protection from the seat structure. Until the repair is complete, confirm whether your VIN is included and follow Freedman Seating's repair instructions.
What if I bought this vehicle used?
The free recall remedy still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the original owner. If you never received the TransitWorks notice, check your VIN to confirm whether the vehicle is included, then contact Freedman Seating with recall number 19V229.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V229000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-800-443-4540 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V229 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V229000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall 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 →