Recall 25V361 covers 2,759 2023-2027 Forest River Bus Collins School Bus vehicles for emergency-exit lock failure. Free repair at any franchised Forest River Bus dealer.
Forest River Bus is recalling 2,759 2023-2027 Collins School Bus vehicles under recall 25V361 because the emergency exit door lock can fail to unlock. A locked emergency exit can prevent or delay evacuation during an emergency and increase injury risk, and Forest River Bus dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The rear emergency exit door on the 2023-2027 Forest River Bus Collins School Bus uses a barrel latch as part of its optional vandal lock. The latch is supposed to release when the door is unlocked, so the emergency exit stays available when students or staff need to leave the bus quickly.
On affected buses, the latch does not stay fully disengaged after the lock is released. Forest River Bus traced the problem to the latch design: without a spring holding the barrel latch open, the latch can move back toward the locked position. When that happens, the emergency exit door does not unlock as intended, and the bus does not meet the emergency-exit release standard.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or fleet operator would find the problem during an emergency-door check, not from a dashboard light, sound, or driving change.
Who's affected?
Spans five model years (2023-2027), all using the same emergency-exit barrel latch.
| 2027 Forest River Bus Collins School Bus | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| 2026 Forest River Bus Collins School Bus | body or structural component |
| 2025 Forest River Bus Collins School Bus | body or structural component |
| 2024 Forest River Bus Collins School Bus | body or structural component |
| 2023 Forest River Bus Collins School Bus | body or structural component |
| Units affected | 2,759 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
A locked emergency exit can slow or block passenger evacuation during an emergency, increasing the risk of injury. There is no warning sign before the latch fails to open, so schedule the barrel latch replacement soon and keep emergency exits checked during pre-trip inspections. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River Bus dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2023-2027 Forest River Bus Collins School Bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River Bus dealer to schedule the free barrel-latch replacement that fixes the emergency exit door lock issue.
- Reference recall number 25V361 and Forest River Bus recall 551-1931 when you call.
- Bring the owner letter if you have it, and ask the dealer how long the latch replacement will take.
- Keep the bus assigned away from passenger service until the emergency exit door latch repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River Bus technician replaces the barrel latch for the emergency exit door so the exit lock releases correctly. Parts and labor are covered under the recall, and the repair is available now. Forest River Bus uses its standard reimbursement plan for owners who already paid for the same latch repair before the recall notice. Bring repair invoices, payment records, and any related paperwork so the service desk or customer service team can review the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 30, 2025 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 30, 2025 | Owner notification mailed |
| July 2, 2025 | Dealer notification began |
| July 2, 2025 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 2, 2025 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V361?
Recall 25V361 covers 2,759 2023-2027 Forest River Bus Collins School Bus vehicles with an emergency exit door lock that can fail to unlock. The defect involves Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 217 for bus emergency exits. Dealers will replace the barrel latch for free.
What should I do if my 2023-2027 Forest River Bus Collins School Bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 25V361. If it is, contact a Forest River Bus dealer to schedule the barrel latch replacement. Reference recall number 25V361 or Forest River Bus recall number 551-1931 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair recall defects at no cost, and Forest River Bus says dealers will replace the barrel latch free of charge. Owners can also contact Forest River customer service at 1-620-888-3361 for recall scheduling help.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is delayed evacuation during an emergency. If the emergency exit remains locked, passengers can be prevented or delayed from leaving the bus, increasing the risk of injury. The free dealer repair replaces the barrel latch tied to the lock problem.
When were owners notified about recall 25V361?
Forest River Bus mailed owner notification letters on June 30, 2025. If you manage or own a 2023-2027 Collins School Bus and did not receive a letter, check your VIN and contact a Forest River Bus dealer with recall number 25V361.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V361000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River Bus customer service | 1-620-888-3361 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V361 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V361000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →