2006 Champion Challenger problems

What is wrong

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.

Recall number 15V757000 · Recall details

What is wrong

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 certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

Risk

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 service at 1‑810‑724‑6474. Owners may contact Ricon customer service at 1‑800‑322‑2884.

Recall number 14V742000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Champion Bus is recalling certain model year 2006, and certain model year 2008-2013 buses, models: American Crusader, Challenger, Crusader, and Defender; manufactured September 30, 2006, through November 16, 2012. The buses are equipped with a Ricon manufactured wheelchair lift which has an optional armored pendant cable. The cable may have been installed such that it doesn't clear the wheelchair lift and without a protective cover, or a misinstalled protective cover.

Risk

The cable may contact the power lug at the base of the wheel chair lift causing a short circuit that could result in a fire.

Remedy

Champion Bus is working with Ricon to notify owners. Ricon will provide a supplemental cover kit with instructions, free of charge. Owners may contact Champion Bus at 1‑819‑724‑6474 or Ricon at 1‑818‑267‑3000.

Recall number 12V593000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Champion bus is recalling certain buses equipped with trans air ta 73 evaporators. The evaporator utilizes a power resistor to regulate blower speed. Should a short occur in the "low or medium speed" circuit while the blower is in high speed, the short will cause the supply voltage to feedback through the resistor to ground, not drawing enough current to trip the fuse.

Risk

This would cause the resistor temperature to rise to a point where it will melt and possibly ignite the plastic blower housing to which it is mounted. The overheating can result in a fire.

Remedy

Champion bus in cooperation with trans air will install a thermal shutdown device in series with the speed resistors. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on december 6, 2010. Owners may contact trans air warranty and service center at 1‑800‑673‑2446.

Recall number 10V593000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Champion bus is recalling certain model year 2003 through 2010 transit buses manufactured between january 2003 and august 2009 equipped with luminator horizon LED side destination signs. The connector board can corrode due to an accumulation of moisture under the connector.

Risk

A short could occur, possibly causing smoke and fire.

Remedy

Champion bus will notify owners and luminator will repair the buses free of charge. Please see luminator's defect report 09e-054. The safety recall began on december 11, 2009. Owners may contact luminator at 1‑972‑516‑3033 or champion bus at 1‑800‑331‑5761.

Recall number 09V369000 · Recall details

What is wrong

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.

Risk

A lift occupant can be injured should the lift begin to stow unintentionally.

Remedy

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.

Recall number 08V490000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Champion bus is recalling 503 my 2005-2008 defender, challenger, cts-re, cts-fe and crusader buses equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, "platform lift installations in motor vehicles." the threshold warning system may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user in a certain spot within the defined threshold area.

Risk

The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.

Remedy

Champion bus is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e095). Owners may contact ricon at 1‑818‑267‑3000 or champion bus at 1‑937‑596‑6849.

Recall number 08V182000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain buses equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, 'platform lift systems for motor vehicles.' the inner barrier interlock switch system in the lift baseplate may not detect the presence of a passenger (either wheelchair or standee) on the barrier and can allow the platform to move down more than one inch below floor level when occupied.

Risk

In the event this condition occurs during passenger operations, it may be possible for the wheelchair to tip backwards onto the platform if the user is backing onto the lift from inside the vehicle and has the small front wheels fully or partially on the inner barrier when the platform was lowered. A person standing could lose his or her balance if they were positioned fully or partly on the inner barrier when the platform was lowered. Either condition could cause personal injury.

Remedy

Champion bus is working with ricon to repair these wheelchair lifts (please see 06e101). Owners can contact ricon at 1‑800‑322‑2884 or champion bus at 1‑800‑331‑5761.

Recall number 07V061000 · Recall details

What is wrong

On certain transit buses built on workhorse chassis and equipped with gm 8.1l v8 engines, improper hardening during the heat treatment process can cause the fuel rail pulse damper retainer clip to fracture, resulting in inadequate retention of the damper. If the damper becomes loose, fuel could be pumped by the fuel pump into the under hood area.

Risk

In the presence of an ignition source, a fire could result.

Remedy

Chevrolet and workhorse are handling the owner notification and remedy for this campaign (please see 06v225 and 06v289). Dealers will replace the fuel rail pulse damper retainer clips on these engines free of charge. Owners may contact chevrolet at 1‑800‑630‑2438, workhorse at 877‑294‑6773 or thor industries at 937‑596‑6849.

Recall number 06V362000 · Recall details