Recall 19V252 covers 15 2018 Ford Transit vans with foldaway seats that can fail to stay locked. Free repair at a franchised Ford dealer.
Ford is recalling 15 2018 Transit shuttle vans equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats because the back seat cushion can fail to stay locked when loaded in a crash or sudden stop. If the seat back moves during a crash, the occupant faces increased injury risk, and the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seat in the 2018 Ford Transit is a folding shuttle-van seat designed to move between a stowed position and an upright seating position. The back seat cushion and its dump mechanism are supposed to lock the cushion in place after it is rotated upright, so the seat stays positioned when someone is sitting on it.
On affected vans, the back frame weldment, a welded frame piece in the seat back, can be too narrow where it fits with the seat base weldment. That fit can deform the dump mechanism, which is the linkage that lets the cushion fold and then lock. Once deformed, the mechanism does not hold the cushion securely under load, including during a sudden stop or crash.
There is no warning sign before failure. The seat can appear to fold up and into place, but the problem is inside the locking mechanism, so an owner will not have a clear symptom to rely on before the seat is loaded.
Who's affected?
| 2018 Ford Transit | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 15 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific van.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash, a moving seat back raises the injury risk for the person in that seat. The concern shows up during a crash, so confirm whether your VIN is included and schedule service promptly. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2018 Ford Transit is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer and ask whether the free foldaway-seat inspection and repair is open for recall number 19V252.
- Keep passengers out of the foldaway seat until a dealer confirms the seat cushion locks and holds under load.
- Bring the recall notice if Ford has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 19V252 when you call.
- Call Ford customer service at 1-651-464-3215 with questions about the seat repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Ford technician inspects the Freedman GO-ES foldaway seat and repairs the seat so the cushion locks as intended. The dealer repair is free once available, and parts and labor are covered under the recall. For seat-related repairs already paid out of pocket, the reimbursement plan on file covers documented expenses. Bring repair paperwork to the service desk or contact customer service for the claim process.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 28, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 25, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V252?
Recall 19V252 covers 15 2018 Ford Transit shuttle vans modified with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats, part number 43705. The back seat cushion can fail to stay locked under load after moving from the stowed position to upright. The dealer inspects and repairs the foldaway seat for free.
What should I do if my 2018 Ford Transit is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific van is included in recall 19V252. If it is, contact a franchised Ford dealer to schedule the foldaway seat inspection and repair. Reference recall number 19V252 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair at no cost, and the dealer will inspect and repair the Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seat free of charge. The recall repair began September 25, 2020.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is occupant injury in a crash. If the back seat cushion does not stay locked under load, the seat back can move during a crash or sudden stop, increasing the seat occupant's risk of injury.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V252000 |
|---|---|
| Ford customer service | 1-651-464-3215 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V252 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V252000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (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 →