NHTSA Campaign 10V129000

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Issued by CHAMPION BUS, INC. · Reported Apr 2, 2010 · 300 vehicles affected

What's wrong

CHAMPION BUS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 BUSES FITTED WITH RICON PUBLIC USE LIFTS. THE RESTRAINT BELT ON THESE LIFTS WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LIFT FROM MOVING, UNLESS THE TONGUE OF THE BELT IS FULLY ENGAGED AND LATCHED IN THE BUCKLE. RICON HAS DISCOVERED, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE OPERATOR TO INSERT THE BELT TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE WITHOUT FULLY ENGAGING THE LATCHING MECHANISM. IN THIS CASE, THE RESTRAINT BELT WOULD APPEAR TO BE LATCHED, AND THE OPERATOR COULD RUN THE LIFT. IF THE RESTRAINT BELT TONGUE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED INTO THE RESTRAINT BELT BUCKLE, AND LATCHED, THE LIFT MAY OPERATE WITH AN OCCUPANT ON THE PLATFORM.

Consequence

THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE WITHOUT THE RESTRAINT BELT PROPERLY BUCKLED.

Remedy

CHAMPION BUS IS WORKING WITH RICON AND RICON WILL BE HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE RICON'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-060. RICON WILL PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH A WARNING DECAL AND A DVD-BASED TRAINING AID. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 800-322-2884, EMAILING AT [email protected].

Vehicles affected by this recall

Make Model Year Units
CHAMPION ABC 3035RE 2008 300
CHAMPION ABC 3035RE 2009 300
CHAMPION ABC M-1235 2008 300
CHAMPION ABC M-1235 2009 300
CHAMPION ABC M-1235 2010 300
CHAMPION CHALLENGER 2007 300
CHAMPION CHALLENGER 2008 300
CHAMPION CHALLENGER 2009 300
CHAMPION CHALLENGER 2010 300
CHAMPION CRUSADER 2008 300
CHAMPION CRUSADER 2009 300
CHAMPION CTS RE 2010 300
CHAMPION DEFENDER 2007 300
CHAMPION DEFENDER 2008 300
CHAMPION DEFENDER 2009 300
CHAMPION DEFENDER 2010 300

Source: NHTSA Campaign 10V129000 on nhtsa.gov. To check the current repair status for a specific vehicle, use our free VIN decoder.