The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·18V813000·Announced 2018-11-16

ARBOC Transit Bus Recall for Foldaway Seat Locking Defect

ARBOC is recalling 2015-2018 Spirit of Freedom, Mobility, and Independence buses because foldaway seat cushions may not stay locked during a crash.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. 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 cushions may fail to lock during a crash, leading to an increased risk of injury, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for structural defects and injury risk.

Plain-English summary

ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC is recalling certain 2015-2018 ARBOC Spirit of Freedom, Spirit of Mobility, and Spirit of Independence-Pro Master transit buses. These vehicles are equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats, part numbers 43705, 45467, 48923, and 75719. The recall affects 62 units.

The defect involves the back seat cushion, which may not remain locked into place when rotated from the stowed position to the upright position under load, such as in a crash or sudden stop. This failure means the vehicles do not comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 207, "Seating Systems." If the seat back moves during a crash, the occupant has an increased risk of injury.

The recall began on November 29, 2018. ARBOC has notified owners to contact Freedman for free repairs of the foldaway seat. Owners may contact Freedman customer service at 1-800-443-4540 or ARBOC at 1-574-825-4880. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 or visit www.safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
ARBOC, ARBOC SPECIALTY VEHICLES SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE, SPIRIT OF MOBILITY, SPIRIT OF FREEDOM
Brand
ARBOC
Manufacturer
ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC
Category
Vehicle — Transit Bus
Hazard
Affected units
62

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 (3)

  • SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE
  • SPIRIT OF MOBILITY
  • SPIRIT OF FREEDOM

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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