Recall 19V247 covers 4 2015-2018 Ford Transit mini-coaches with Freedman seats that fail to stay locked. Repair is free at a franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 4 of its 2015-2018 Transit-based mini-coaches equipped with Freedman GO-ES foldaway seats because the back seat cushion can fail to stay locked under load. In a crash, seat back movement increases the occupant's injury risk, and the Ford dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The foldaway rear seat in a 2015-2018 Ford Transit mini-coach is designed to move between a stowed position and an upright seating position. When the seat is upright, the cushion and locking hardware are supposed to hold the seat back in place so it supports a passenger during normal driving, a sudden stop, or a crash.
On affected Transit mini-coaches, the GO-ES foldaway seat was built with a back frame weldment that is too narrow. That narrow frame can deform the seat back cushion dump mechanism, the hardware that controls the folding and locking action. If the mechanism malfunctions, the seat cushion does not stay locked under load, and the seat back does not support the loading it was designed to handle in a front or rear collision.
There is no warning sign before failure. The seat can look usable when moved upright, while the locking mechanism still fails under crash or sudden-stop forces.
Who's affected?
The scope spans four model years, with the same seat assembly involved in each year.
| 2016 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2015 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
| 2017 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
| 2018 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 4 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific van is included.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash, a seat back that moves can leave the seat occupant less protected and increase the risk of injury. Schedule the seat inspection and repair soon, and tell the dealer this is recall 19V247. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2018 Ford Transit is included in this recall.
- Use the owner notice mailed on June 6, 2019, if you received one, or contact a franchised Ford dealer for current repair instructions.
- Reference recall number 19V247 when you call so the service desk can find the seat recall.
- Ask the dealer about the seat inspection and repair that checks whether the Freedman foldaway seat cushion stays locked under crash or sudden-stop load.
- Avoid using the foldaway seat for passengers until a dealer confirms the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
Ford's filing says the recall began June 6, 2019, but the remedy status here is not marked available. The known dealer work is an inspection and repair of the Freedman GO-ES foldaway seat. Once the repair is open for your VIN, a Ford technician will inspect the seat and repair the seat lock condition at no charge under the recall. Call the dealer with campaign 19V247 before bringing the vehicle in so the service desk can confirm parts and instructions.
Timeline
| March 28, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 6, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V247?
Recall 19V247 covers 4 2015-2018 Ford Transit-based mini-coaches equipped with Freedman GO-ES foldaway seats. The seat cushion can fail to stay locked when the back seat cushion is moved from the stowed position to the upright position under crash or sudden-stop loads.
What should I do if my 2015-2018 Ford Transit is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific mini-coach is included in recall 19V247. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the seat inspection and repair. Reference recall number 19V247 when you call, and ask whether the Freedman GO-ES foldaway seat is included.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall remedy at no cost, and the campaign remedy says dealers will inspect and repair the seat. Parts and labor are covered for included 2015-2018 Ford Transit-based mini-coaches.
What is the safety risk?
The official safety risk is increased injury to the seat occupant in a crash. If the seat back moves under load, the occupant is not held in the intended position. The repair path is to have the dealer inspect and repair the affected seat for free.
What if I bought this Ford Transit used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Ford Transit-based mini-coach is included, then reference recall number 19V247 when you contact the dealer.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V247000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-800-544-5587 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V247 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V247000 |
Source documents
-
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 →