Equipment adaptive/mobilityRecall 08V-490 · Champion vehicles
CHAMPION BUS, INC. recall 08V-490 covers 503 Champion vehicles for a equipment adaptive/mobility problem, reported to NHTSA on September 25, 2008.
Source: NHTSA recall 08V490000 and manufacturer quarterly reports. Started by an NHTSA defect investigation.
The problem
CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING 503 MY 2005-2007 CHALLENGER, CRUSADER, DEFENDER, MY 2005-2006 CORPORAL, MY 2006 CTS-RE, AND MY 2007 CTS-FE AND IC DEFENDER TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH A RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFT. THIS LIFT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT.
The risk
A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.
The fix
CHAMPION BUS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR CHAMPION BUS AT 1-800-331-5761.
CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.
Recall repairs are free. Confirm whether this recall is open on your vehicle by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Vehicles in this recall
Built from April 1, 2005 to August 31, 2007. Not every vehicle in these model years is included; check by VIN.
The investigation behind this recall
- RICON/THRESHOLD WARNING/ANTI-STOWNHTSA