RoadVitals

2019 Arboc Spirit Of Independence

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 Jul 24, 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 2019 Arboc Spirit Of Independence. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 11 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

1 campaign 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
26V479000

SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS; SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER/BRACKET

Jul 24, 2026
502 units potentially affected
The defect: ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC (ARBOC) is recalling certain 2017-2026 Spirit of Independence transit buses. The wrong size washers may have been installed on the rear spring hanger bolts.
The risk: The rear spring hanger may detach from the frame, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will install the correct washers, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed September 18, 2026. 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.

AR880

STRUCTURE:BODY; SUSPENSION

Complaint: Drawn‐over‐mandrel (DOM) tube cracks in frame at rear spring, front frame brackets Cause: DOM tube to frame tolerance variations Correction: Weld cracks in DOM tube to frame connection Step 1) Pull unit onto hoist, chock tires to prevent bus from moving. Step 2) Disconnect negative battery cable from both batteries. Step 3) Inspect rear spring, front frame DOM tubes for cracks (see picture below‐ green arrows). Step 4) If NO cracks are found proceed to Step 7. Step 5) If cracks are found, remove rear spring, front frame bracket. Grind cracked area of frame and DOM tubes. Step 6) Weld cracks and grind repaired cracks smooth. Reinstall rear spring, front frame bracket. Torque bracket to frame bolts to 66 ft‐lbs. and spring to bracket bolts 166 ft‐lbs. Step 7) Weld frame bracket to frame (see red line in picture below). Using high quality undercoating or rust protective paint, coat repaired area. Step 8) Repeat Step 3 thru Step 7 on other side of frame. Step 9) Reconnect negative battery cables on both batteries. Step 10) Remove unit from hoist.

AR879

STRUCTURE:BODY

Complaint: Structural stress crack of chassis frame at outrigger supports Cause : Concentrated stress loads Correction: Drill stop holes into frame, weld cracks and weld provided reinforcement plate to affected area

AR878

STRUCTURE:BODY

Complaint: Structural stress crack of chassis frame at front of rear suspension Cause: Concentrated stress loads Correction: Drill stop holes into frame, weld cracks and weld provided reinforcement plate to affected area

AR878

STRUCTURE; SUSPENSION

AR878- 2018-2019 Spirit of Freedom (SOF-F) Front Frame Reinforcement-Complaint: Structural stress crack of chassis frame at front of rear suspension. Cause: Concentrated stress loads. Correction: Drill stop holes into frame, weld cracks and weld provided reinforcement plate to affected area. Vehicles Affected: 2018/2019 Spirit of Independence-Ford. Labor Op code: 0127801. Labor Time Allowance: 4.0 hrs. per unit. Parts Return: No. Pre Auth Required: Yes.

AR879

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; STRUCTURE

AR879- 2018-2019 Spirit of Independence-Ford (SOI-F) Frame Outrigger Reinforcement-Complaint: Structural stress crack of chassis frame at outrigger supports. Cause: Concentrated stress loads. Correction: Drill stop holes into frame, weld cracks and weld provided reinforcement plate to affected area. Vehicles Affected: 2018/2019 Spirit of Independence-Ford (SOI-F). Labor Op code: 0127901.Labor Time Allowance: 1.5 hrs. per bracket. Parts Return: No. Pre Auth Required: Yes

AR880

EQUIPMENT; STRUCTURE

AR880-2018-2019 Spirit of Independence-Ford Chassis (SOI-F). Drawn-over-mandrel (DOM) Tube Frame Reinforcement. Complaint: Drawn-over-mandrel (DOM) tube cracks in frame at rear spring, front frame brackets. Cause: DOM tube to frame tolerance variations. Correction: Weld cracks in DOM tube to frame connection. Vehicles Affected: 2018/2019 Spirit of Independence-Ford (SOI-F). Labor Op code: 0128001 Labor Time Allowance: 4 hrs. per unit Parts Return : No Pre Auth Required: Yes

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 Spirit Of Independence by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2026020—
2025010—
2024010—
2023010—
2022010—
2021010—
2020010—
2019Viewing010—
2018020—
2017020—
2016010—
2015010—

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.