The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·18V798000·Announced 2018-11-12

Champion and Goshen Transit Buses Recalled for Seat Lock Defect

Champion Bus is recalling 2017-2018 transit buses because foldaway seats may not stay locked during a crash or sudden stop, increasing injury risk.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect where seat restraints may fail during a crash, leading to an increased risk of injury, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for structural defects and significant injury reports.

Plain-English summary

Champion Bus, Inc. is recalling certain 2017-2018 Champion Challenger, Defender, and LF Transport, as well as Goshen G-Force and Impulse transit buses. These vehicles are equipped with specific Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats (part numbers 43705, 45467, 48923, and 75719). The recall affects 76 vehicles.

The defect involves the back seat cushion, which may not remain locked in the upright position when under load, such as during a crash or a sudden stop. This condition causes the vehicles to fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems," and number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages." If the seat back moves during a crash, the occupant has an increased risk of injury.

Champion will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the foldaway seats free of charge. The recall began on December 19, 2018. Owners can contact Champion customer service at 1-810-724-1753, extension 415, or Freedman customer service at 1-800-527-7477. The NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline is available at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
CHAMPION, GOSHEN LF TRANSPORT, CHALLENGER, G-FORCE, IMPULSE
Brand
CHAMPION
Manufacturer
Champion Bus, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Transit Bus
Hazard
Affected units
76

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (5)

  • LF TRANSPORT
  • CHALLENGER
  • G-FORCE
  • IMPULSE
  • DEFENDER

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · CHAMPION

Same manufacturer · Champion Bus, Inc.

See all →

Same hazard · seat restraint failure

See all →