Recall 26V014 affects 67 2025-2026 Forest River Bus Trans Tech School Bus vehicles for rear-axle overloading. Free seating repair at franchised Forest River Bus dealers.
Forest River Bus is recalling 67 2025-2026 Trans Tech School Bus vehicles under recall 26V014 because a modified seating floor plan can overload the rear axle beyond its rating. That overload can cause loss of vehicle control and increase crash risk, and Forest River Bus dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The seating layout in the 2025-2026 Forest River Bus Trans Tech School Bus sets where passengers sit and how much load rests over each axle. The rear Gross Axle Weight Rating, or GAWR, is the maximum weight the rear axle is rated to carry. A school bus can be within its total vehicle weight limit while still putting too much weight on the rear axle.
On affected buses, the modified seating floor plan changed the seating capacity and load placement enough to push the rear axle beyond its rating. Forest River Bus found that the buses were weighed against the total Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, but the individual axle weights were not properly evaluated. The recalled units are tied to that seating configuration, not a broken seat frame or loose seat hardware.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or fleet operator is more likely to learn about the issue through a weight inspection, service review, or VIN check than from a dashboard light or change in how the bus feels.
Who's affected?
Covers the 2025 and 2026 model years, with the same seat assembly listed for each.
| 2025 Forest River Bus Trans Tech School Bus | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2026 Forest River Bus Trans Tech School Bus | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 67 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
Overloading the rear axle can reduce control of the bus and increase crash risk. There is no warning sign before control is affected, so use the VIN result as the guide and schedule the seating modification soon. Repair is free at any franchised Forest River Bus dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2025-2026 Forest River Bus Trans Tech School Bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Forest River Bus dealer to schedule the free seating-floor-plan modification that addresses rear-axle overload risk.
- Bring the recall notice if Forest River Bus mailed one. If not, reference recall number 26V014 when you call.
- Use only the seating positions allowed by the current posted bus capacity until the repair is complete.
- Ask the dealer whether the seating modification reduces capacity and whether a refund applies.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Forest River Bus technician modifies the seating so the floor plan stays within the rear Gross Axle Weight Rating. The repair is available now, and parts and labor are free under the recall. The dealer also provides any required refund for lost seating capacity. Forest River Bus uses its standard reimbursement plan for this campaign. If you've already paid out of pocket for a related seating or capacity repair, bring documentation to the service desk or contact Forest River Bus customer service to ask how to file the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 16, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 17, 2026 | Owner notification mailed |
| February 25, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| February 25, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V014?
Recall 26V014 covers 67 2025-2026 Forest River Bus Trans Tech School Bus vehicles with a seating floor plan that can exceed the rear Gross Axle Weight Rating. Forest River Bus dealers will modify the seating for free and provide a refund for lost seating capacity when required.
What should I do if my 2025-2026 Forest River Bus Trans Tech School Bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 26V014. If it is, contact a franchised Forest River Bus dealer to schedule the seating modification. Reference recall number 26V014 and Forest River Bus recall 05-2015 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair at no cost, and Forest River Bus says dealers will modify the seating free of charge. The remedy also includes a refund for lost seating capacity when the seating change reduces capacity.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is loss of vehicle control from an overloaded rear axle. Forest River Bus reported that the modified seating floor plan can exceed the rear Gross Axle Weight Rating, which increases crash risk. The dealer fix changes the seating layout to bring the bus back into compliance.
When were owners notified about recall 26V014?
Forest River Bus mailed owner notification letters on February 17, 2026. If you own or operate one of these buses and did not receive a letter, check your VIN and call Forest River Bus customer service at 1-800-348-7440 with recall number 05-2015.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V014000 |
|---|---|
| Forest River Bus customer service | 1-800-348-7440 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V014 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V014000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (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 →