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Service bulletin AR878

A bulletin is a manufacturer's communication to its dealers, as NHTSA indexes it. The summary is NHTSA's. The document is the manufacturer's: read it at NHTSA. A bulletin is not a recall, and listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned.

The communication, as NHTSA indexes it (as of 2026-10-19)
TypeService bulletin
NHTSA id10185196
Published by NHTSA2021-01-06
Manufacturer's numberAR878
Manufacturer's date2020-11-18
NHTSA componentSUSPENSION; STRUCTURE

NHTSA's summary

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.

The document

The document is the manufacturer's. This site does not hold it. NHTSA files a document at one of these two addresses; we have not asked NHTSA which.

Components

Body and frame, Suspension

Vehicles listed
ARBOC SPIRIT OF INDEPENDENCE2018, 2019
ARBOC SPECIALTY VEHICLES SPIRIT OF FREEDOM2018 to 2019

Listing a model year does not mean every vehicle of it is concerned: the document says which.

Recalls for the same vehicles and component
20263632026-07-24. Suspension
26V4790002026-07-24. SUSPENSION:CRITICAL FASTENERS; SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY:HANGER/BRACKET

A recall listed here may apply to some of the same vehicles. Only the manufacturer can say whether it applies to one vehicle.

Other bulletins for the same vehicles and component
AR8802025-02-05. Service bulletin. 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.
AR8792025-02-05. Service bulletin. 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
AR8782025-02-04. Service bulletin. 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
AR8802021-01-06. Service bulletin. 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
AR8792021-01-06. Service bulletin. 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
AR8722020-06-25. Service bulletin. Complaint: Structural stress crack of chassis frame at rear suspension Cause: Concentrated Stress Loads Correction: Drill 1/8" Stop Holes into Frame at the end of cracks and weld provided retrofit bracket in affected area
AR8722020-02-12. Service bulletin. AR872-SOI-F Frame Reinforcement-Complaint-Structural stress crack of chassis frame at rear suspension. Cause-Concentrated Stress Loads. Correction-Drill 1/8" stop holes into frame at the end of the cracks and weld provided retrofit bracket in affected area. Affects 2018/2019 Spirit of Independence Fords (SOI-F)
AR8682019-06-06. Service bulletin. AR868-2018 SOI Door Shift Interlock-Complaint-Ability to shift unit in gears with doors open and park brake off. Cause-Demo unit sold with previously standard I/O controller which could not be reprogrammed. Design was set for doors to automatically close after 2 mph. Correction-Per instructions, please add jumper harness which will not allow the vehicle to come out of gear with doors open. This was at customer request. They purchased demo bus under a different design. Affects only bus 3172. No labor coverage under warranty as this is not a design or function flaw.
AR8662019-04-08. Service bulletin. AR866-Rear Upper Shock Mount Bracket Installation-Complaint-Upper shock has movement during jounce. Cause-Insufficient structural support. Correction-Add bracket, part # 1312336, with weldment.