RoadVitals

2021 Arboc Specialty Vehicles Spirit Of Freedom

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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Latest Mar 11, 2026
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Arboc Specialty Vehicles Spirit Of Freedom. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
26V137000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:ANTILOCK/TRACTION CONTROL/ELECTRONIC LIMITED SLIP

Mar 11, 2026
908 units potentially affected
The defect: ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC (ARBOC) is recalling certain 2018-2026 Spirit of Freedom and Spirit of Mobility transit buses. The rear brake lines may have been installed incorrectly causing the anti-lock brake system (ABS) modulator valve to malfunction. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems."
The risk: Loss of the rear ABS system can increase the risk of a crash.
The remedy: ARBOC will provide instructions to reroute and re-connect the rear brake lines, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 17, 2026. Owners may contact ARBOC customer service at 1-866-953-5555.
ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLCView on NHTSA.gov
21V174000

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Mar 12, 2021
29 units potentially affected
The defect: ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC (ARBOC) is recalling certain 2021 Spirit of Freedom Ford E450 vehicles. The fuel hose may not be secured correctly, which can result in a fuel leak.
The risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source can increase the risk of fire.
The remedy: ARBOC has notified owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the fuel hose connection, free of charge. The recall began March 16, 2021. Owners may contact ARBOC customer service at 1-866-953-5555.
ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLCView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB 2601

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

The purpose of this is to alert dealer/owners that there are potential unprotected circuits. This is for 2019-2026 SOM/SOF units that we are adding thermal protection.

AR883

Complaint: Heat escaping engine cover (doghouse) on Spirit of Freedom-Ford buses. Cause: Design. Correction: Modify engine cover (doghouse) and re-wire as instructed below. 1. Remove switch cover and fire suppression controller. Shown circled below. 2. Unplug wire harness from HMI switches and label for reassembly. Carefully run them through holes without damaging connectors. 3. Remove engine cover and cup holder from chassis by unclipping the 4 clips. 4. Using hole saw, cut a 2-inch hole in the lower curbside cupholder storage area. 5. Cover hole with part 1201778, U-Channel Seal. 6. Using 2 -13”x3” pieces of 996572 Backer Strip, remove adhesive mylar and cover two holes on the outside of the engine cover. 7. Using 2-3”x 3” sections of part # 2003827, Bulkhead Insulation, remove adhesive mylar and insulate the inside of the holes and backer to stop heat transfer. 8. Cover the backer covered outside holes with heat tape. 9. Cover the inside holes of the engine cover insulation and bulkhead insulation with heat tape making it airtight. 10. Route wires through hole and connect to switches. Run additional harness above engine cover and zip tie in place. 11. Place the switch cover on the cup holder. 12. Place the cupholder on the engine cover and reattach the engine cover to the chassis. 13. Route and pclamp the wire harness along the engine cover on the floor. Be sure a harness is concealed under dash.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Arboc Specialty Vehicles Spirit Of Freedom by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026020—
2025030—
2024010—
2023010—
2022010—
2021Viewing020—
2020010—
2019020—
2018030—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.