2008 ROAD RESCUE AMBULANCE

On December 7, 2012 the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE) on 2008 Model Year (MY) Road Rescue EV Ambulances. The PE was opened to determine whether a loss of emergency power and accessories to the patient cab area creates an unreasonable risk to patients or e... mergency personnel.By letter dated May 17, 2013, Wheeled Coach Industries, Inc. notified ODI that it had initiated a safety recall (NHTSA Recall No. 13V-213) to address a safety defect in the vehicles subject to this investigation.According to Wheeled Coach, a failure of the master power disconnect switch can occur, which terminates flow of 12vDC electrical service to the ambulance patient cab.Failure of the programming in the primary multiplex node can affect portions of 12vDC electrical service, including a complete loss of power to the ambulance patient cab.In the event of a failure, the accessory electrical functions such as siren, warning lights and interior patient compartment lights may be intermittent or fail to operate.Wheeled Coach has informed ODI that the chassis function and drivability are not affected.Wheeled Coach's recall action addresses the issues raised by this investigation and, as a result, this investigation is closed.Read more

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER A NEW YORK AMBULANCE FLEET NOTIFIED ODI THAT THEY HAD EXPERIENCED AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, WHICH FILLED THE PATIENT?S COMPARTMENT WITH SMOKE.ALLEGEDLY, THE FIRE STARTED IN THE DISTRIBUTION PANEL WHICH SUPPLIES ELECTRICAL POWER TO OPERATE THE LIGHTS AND EQUIPMENT IN THE... PATIENT?S COMPARTMENT.HIGHLY FLAMMABLE MATERIALS, SUCH AS OXYGEN BOTTLES ARE STORED AND USED IN THE PATIENT COMPARTMENT OF THESE VEHICLES.ODI CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER AND THEY REPORTED A SECOND THERMAL EVENT CONCERNING THE SAME ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT. DURING THE COURSE OF THE INVESTIGATION, ROAD RESCUE DISCOVERED THAT THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM WAS NOT PROPERLY PROTECTED AGAINST A SHORT CIRCUITAND THE FUSES WOULD NEED TO BE CHANGED TO A FUSE THAT REQUIRES A MANUAL RESET, INSTEAD OF THE AUTOMATIC RESETTING TYPE FUSE CURRENTLY INSTALLED IN THE SUBJECT VEHICLES.ROAD RESCUE HAS FILED A SAFTEY RECALL TO REPLACE THE FUSES ON ALL AMBULANCES UTILIZING THE SELF-RESETTING STYLE FUSE.A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED AND THIS ACTION RESOLVES THE FIRE CONCERN RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.HENCE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSEDRead more