Forest River Bus Recalls Trans Tech School Buses Due to Rear Axle Overloading Risk
Areazine synthesizes this NHTSA vehicle recall directly from NHTSA's official public data feed. See our methodology for full source attribution and refresh cadence.
Forest River Bus is recalling certain 2025-2026 Trans Tech school buses because modified seating plans may exceed weight ratings, increasing the risk of a crash.
What this NHTSA vehicle recall tells you, and what most readers miss
This notice was issued by NHTSA on April 6, 2026 and geographically references United States. Its severity classification of "high" signals how the issuing agency weighs the risk of harm if no action is taken - "critical" and "high" tier alerts typically carry direct consumer actions, while "medium" and "low" tend toward informational guidance or monitoring advisories. The category it belongs to - Vehicle Recalls - determines the consumer-protection framework behind it, which shapes what remedies (refunds, replacements, repairs, or the recall itself) are available to affected consumers and which agency holds statutory responsibility for enforcement.
Most readers skim a notice like this, check whether they are personally affected, and move on. The more useful lens is to verify its scope, source, and timestamp, then compare related notices without assuming that one record proves a broader trend.
Areazine pairs this record with the original agency URL so you can check the primary source before acting. Its related labels are recall, product-safety, nhtsa, School Bus.
What Happened
Forest River Bus, LLC has issued a recall for specific Trans Tech school buses due to concerns regarding vehicle weight distribution. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the modified seating floor plans in these vehicles may cause the weight to exceed the rear Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR). This defect means the vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 120, "Wheels and Rims - Other Than Passenger Cars."
Which Products Are Affected
The recall impacts a total of 134 units. The following models are included:
- Make/Model: Forest River Bus Trans Tech School Bus
- Model Years: 2025 and 2026
- Recall Numbers: NHTSA Campaign Number 26V014000; Forest River Bus internal number 05-2015
What You Should Do
Owners of the affected school buses are encouraged to contact Forest River Bus customer service at 1-800-348-7440. Authorized dealers will modify the seating configurations free of charge to ensure the vehicle remains within safe weight limits. Additionally, the manufacturer will provide a refund for any lost seating capacity necessitated by the modification. Owner notification letters are expected to be sent out by February 25, 2026.
Why This Matters
Exceeding the rear axle weight rating is a serious safety concern. Overloading the rear axle can lead to a loss of vehicle control, which significantly increases the risk of a crash for the driver and passengers.
Source
Information provided by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Original source: NHTSA Official Notice ↗
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