2014 CHAMPION CHALLENGER
6 recalls — 2 complaints — 2 TSBs
18V573000 Aug 30, 2018
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Defect Description
Champion Bus (Champion) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Champion American Coach, American Crusader, American S2, Challenger, Crusader, Defender, and Impulse vehicles, equipped with certain S-Series and K-Series Titanium Wheelchair Lifts, models K200, K201, K550, K551, S200, S2201, S550 and S551. The... Read more
Consequence
If the wheelchair lift platform stops above the vehicle floor, the wheelchair user can tip inwards toward the vehicle when exiting the lift, increasing their risk of injury.
Remedy
Dealers will replace the injection molded cam with an aluminum machined cam, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact Champion customer service 1-810-724-1753 extension 415 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884 or by emailing Ricon at [email protected].
15V757000 Nov 16, 2015
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Defect Description
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... Read more
Consequence
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-... Read more
15V391000 Jun 19, 2015
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
Defect Description
Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 American Crusader, American Coach, Challenger, Crusader, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, Defender, EZ Trans, HCAC, HC, DFUC, LF Transport, Premier, and Spirit transit buses manufactured March 1, 2013, to June 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles... Read more
Consequence
A frayed seat belt fray may fail to properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy
Champion will notify owners, and dealers will install a plastic sleeve over the metal seat frame, and replace any seat belts that show evidence of fraying, free of charge. The recall began on September 16, 2015. Owners may contact Champion customer service at 1-810-724-1753 extension 562.
14V821000 Dec 29, 2014
EQUIPMENT
Defect Description
Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 American Crusader, Challenger, Crusader, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, Defender, EZ-Street, HC American, HCAC, LF Transport, M1235, Platinum Shuttle, Stacked Rail, and Federal Coach Premier, and Spirit transit buses manufactured January 1, 20... Read more
Consequence
Warning triangles that do not properly reflect light may fail to warn others that a vehicle is parked, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy
Champion will notify owners to inspect their triangles for production dates between April 2011, to April 2014, and the affected triangles will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on January 6, 2015. Owners may contact Champion customer service at 1-810-724-6474.
14V748000 Nov 24, 2014
SEATS
Defect Description
Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 LF Transport, HCAC, Defender, Crusader, and Challenger transit buses manufactured September 2, 2014, to October 14, 2014. The spring nuts used to secure the passenger seats failed durability testing.
Consequence
Spring nuts that fail to secure the seat and allow seat movement could increase the risk of personal injury in the event of a vehicle crash.
Remedy
Champion will notify owners, and dealers will replace the defective seat nuts, free of charge. The recall began in December 2014. Owners may contact Champion at 1-810-724-6474.
14V742000 Nov 19, 2014
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Defect Description
Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion Bus) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 American Coach, American Crusader, Challenger, Corporal, Crusader, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, Defender, HCAC, HC American, Platinum Shuttle, and Stacked Rail transit buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to July 31, 2014, equipped with c... Read more
Consequence
If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
Remedy
Champion Bus will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began in November 2014. Owners may contact Champion Bus customer ser... Read more
Complaint Statistics
2 total complaints
2 crashes
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
|---|---|
| SERVICE BRAKES | 1 |
| STEERING | 1 |
SERVICE BRAKES
Apr 30, 2018
Incident date: Mar 24, 2018
DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY ABOUT 45 TO 50 MPH SEEN A DOG, TRIED TO MISS THE DOG TURN THE WHEEL TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN UP, WERE HEADED IN A CURB ALSO TRIED TO HIT MY BRAKES AND THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I WERE SLIDEING IN THE DITCH COULD NOT STOP FLIP OVER AND TOTAL THE CAR. NO POLICE REPORT BECAUSE HE WAS RUSH... Read more
Crash
STEERING
Apr 30, 2018
Incident date: Mar 24, 2018
DRIVING DOWN HIGHWAY ABOUT 45 TO 50 MPH SEEN A DOG, TRIED TO MISS THE DOG TURN THE WHEEL TRIED TO STRAIGHTEN UP, WERE HEADED IN A CURB ALSO TRIED TO HIT MY BRAKES AND THE WHEEL LOCKED UP AND I WERE SLIDEING IN THE DITCH COULD NOT STOP FLIP OVER AND TOTAL THE CAR. NO POLICE REPORT BECAUSE HE WAS RUSH... Read more
Crash
Technical Service Bulletins — 2014 CHAMPION CHALLENGER
2 manufacturer communications from 2 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.
Most Affected Components
| Component | Bulletins |
|---|---|
| 350000 EQUIPMENT | 1 |
| 220000 SEATS | 1 |
2018-002
Dec 28, 2018
220000 SEATS
The mounting bolt to install the Freedman driver?s seat to the Ford OEM seat track may not have been sufficiently tightened during installation.
FSB_2014-108
Dec 11, 2014
350000 EQUIPMENT
HEATER VALVES MUST BE OPENED WHILE REAR HEATERS ARE RUNNING. FAILURE TO DO SO WILL RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE HEAT PUMP, VOIDING THE WARRANTY ON THE COMPONENTS. THIS PROCEDURE IS NOT NECESSARY IF YOU VEHICLE IS EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRIC OR VAC
NHTSA Safety Investigations — CHAMPION CHALLENGER
Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.
PE03046
Opened: Oct 14, 2003 — Closed: Dec 1, 2003
LATERAL CROSSMEMBERS CRACKING
THIS INVESTIGATION WAS BASED ON INFORMATION PROVIDED BY A BUS FLEET WHICH WAS EXPERIENCING FLOOR SAGGING DUE TO THE LATERAL CROSSMEMBERS CRACKING ON SIX OF THEIR BUSES.THE CRACKING OCCURED AS A RESULT OF UNDERSIZED GAUGE STEEL BEING USED ON THE THE FLOOR FRAME CROSSMEMBERS.CRACKS OF THIS NATURE COUL... Read more
CHAMPION CHALLENGER — All Years Overview
Complete safety history for the CHAMPION CHALLENGER across all model years (1997–2024).
108
Total Recalls
3
Total Complaints
1
Investigations
2
Reported Crashes
0
Reported Fires
0
Reported Deaths
CHAMPION CHALLENGER — Year by Year
Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | 1 | 0 | View |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | View |
| 2019 | 1 | 0 | View |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 2016 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 2015 | 4 | 0 | View |
| 2014 (current) | 6 | 2 | |
| 2013 | 7 | 0 | View |
| 2012 | 5 | 1 | View |
| 2011 | 4 | 0 | View |
| 2010 | 8 | 0 | View |
| 2009 | 11 | 0 | View |
| 2008 | 10 | 0 | View |
| 2007 | 9 | 0 | View |
| 2006 | 9 | 0 | View |
| 2005 | 8 | 0 | View |
| 2004 | 3 | 0 | View |
| 2003 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 2002 | 3 | 0 | View |
| 2001 | 3 | 0 | View |
| 2000 | 3 | 0 | View |
| 1999 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 1998 | 1 | 0 | View |
| 1997 | 1 | 0 | View |