Laguna Hills, CA – May 17, 2019 – Waldoch Crafts is recalling certain 2018 Ford Transit Shuttle Vans equipped with Freedman GO-ES Foldaway Seats. The rear seat cushion may not stay locked in place when the vehicle is carrying a heavy load, such as when a sudden stop occurs, or during a crash. As many as 15 vehicles may be affected.
The Defect
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration report on this issue, the affected Ford Transit vehicles, which were modified by Waldoch Crafts, contained rear foldaway seats that are designed to rotate from the stowed position to the upright one. Because of a manufacturing defect, the seat cushions may not remain locked in place in certain situations, such as when an unexpected stop occurs, or during a crash. In the event of an accident, there is a greater likelihood of injury for rear seat passengers.
Description of Cause
According to the manufacturer, if the back frame weldment is too narrow and it is fastened to the seat base weldment, this could potentially result in a deformation of the dump mechanism. As a result, this defect would cause the seat back cushion locking module to malfunction under certain conditions. If the seat back does not lock correctly, shuttle van passengers could suddenly find themselves thrown backwards into a reclining position, increasing the chance of injury.
The Solution
A schedule for formal notification of the recall has not been finalized yet. The manufacturer is still working on a repair solution for the problem, and will contact owners when that becomes available.
Owners may contact Waldoch customer service at 1-651-464-3215. Owners may also contact the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to the www.safercar.gov website. The NHTSA Campaign Number for this recall is 19V-252.
