Recall 25V842 covers 12 2025 Spirit Of Freedom buses with wheelchair retractors that fail to lock. Arboc Specialty Vehicles dealer repair is free.
Arboc Specialty Vehicles is recalling 12 2025 Spirit Of Freedom transit buses because wheelchair retractors can fail to lock. That defect leaves a wheelchair unsecured during transit, raises the risk of injury, and Arboc Specialty Vehicles dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The QRT-MAX wheelchair securement retractor on the 2025 Arboc Specialty Vehicles Spirit Of Freedom is part of the tie-down system for a wheelchair seating position. The retractor holds and tensions the restraint strap so the wheelchair stays fixed to its anchors during normal travel, emergency maneuvers, and a crash. When it locks correctly, the strap cannot keep feeding out after the wheelchair is installed.
On affected buses, the retractor can stay unlocked after installation. An unlocked retractor lets the securement strap move instead of holding the wheelchair firmly in place. That means the wheelchair is not properly secured, which places the passenger at risk of serious injury or death during emergency maneuvers or a crash.
The warning sign is visible during securement. The affected retractors can intermittently fail to auto-lock when a wheelchair is installed at a seating position with one of these retractors.
Who's affected?
VINs became searchable on December 9, 2025.
| 2025 Arboc Specialty Vehicles Spirit Of Freedom | Latch/anchor |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 12 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
If a wheelchair retractor does not auto-lock, the wheelchair can shift during transit and increase the risk of injury. Confirm your VIN, then schedule the inspection and any needed retractor replacement. Until the repair is complete, make sure wheelchair securement is checked before each trip. Repair is free at any franchised Arboc Specialty Vehicles dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2025 Arboc Specialty Vehicles Spirit Of Freedom is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Arboc Specialty Vehicles dealer to schedule the free wheelchair-restraint retractor inspection and replacement that fixes retractors that fail to lock.
- Bring the owner letter if you have it, and reference recall number 25V842 when you call.
- Avoid carrying passengers in a wheelchair position where the restraint retractor fails to lock until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Arboc Specialty Vehicles technician inspects the wheelchair securement retractors and replaces any retractor that does not lock as intended. The inspection, replacement parts, and labor are covered under the recall. The work focuses on the retractors used to secure a wheelchair in the 2025 Spirit Of Freedom. Because the remedy is available, the dealer can perform the recall repair now once your VIN is included and an appointment is set.
Timeline
| December 8, 2025 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 9, 2025 | Dealer notification began |
| December 9, 2025 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| December 9, 2025 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 12, 2025 | Dealer notification ended |
| February 6, 2026 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V842?
Recall 25V842 covers 12 2025 Arboc Specialty Vehicles Spirit Of Freedom transit buses with wheelchair securement retractors that do not lock properly. An unsecured wheelchair can move during transit and raise the risk of injury. Dealers will inspect and replace the retractors for free.
What should I do if my 2025 Arboc Specialty Vehicles Spirit Of Freedom is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 25V842. If it is, contact an Arboc Specialty Vehicles dealer to schedule the wheelchair retractor inspection. The dealer will replace affected retractors for free. Reference recall number 25V842 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Arboc Specialty Vehicles dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors free of charge under this recall.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is wheelchair movement during transit. If the retractors do not lock, the wheelchair is not properly secured, which raises the risk of injury for the wheelchair occupant and others in the bus.
When were owners notified about recall 25V842?
Arboc Specialty Vehicles mailed owner notification letters on February 6, 2026. If you operate or bought a 2025 Spirit Of Freedom bus and never received a letter, check your VIN and call Arboc Specialty Vehicles customer service at 1-866-953-5555.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V842000 |
|---|---|
| Arboc Specialty Vehicles customer service | 1-866-953-5555 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V842 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V842000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 →