CarRecallWatch- Component
- EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
- Problem
- Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Challenger, Defender, Crusader, American, American Coach, American Crusader, Corporal, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, HC American, Platinum Shuttle, and Stacked Rail transit buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to August 25, 2015, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.
- Risk
- If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.
- Remedy
- Champion will notify owners, and Ricon will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on December 21, 2015. Owners may contact Champion customer service at 1-810-724-1753 extension 415, or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Champion's number for this recall is 15E-068. Note: These buses and wheelchair lifts were subject to a similar recall in 2014. All vehicles that received that recall remedy are still affected by this recall as well.
- Notes
- Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
What this recall means for you
Certain transit buses built from 2006 to 2015 have wheelchair lifts with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too large. This allows the bearings to shift out of position, which can cause excessive movement of the stowed lift platform and eventual failure of its mounting.
If the platform mounting fails, the wheelchair lift platform could fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator. Vehicles that received the remedy under a similar 2014 recall are still affected by this recall.
The repair is free. Ricon will inspect the link arms for damage or displaced bearings and check the platform for cracks, replacing any damaged parts at no charge. Owners can contact Champion Bus customer service at 1-810-724-1753 extension 415 (Champion recall number 15E-068) or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. You can also check your vehicle identification number (VIN) for open recalls.
Check whether this recall is open on your vehicle