The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·10V354000·Announced 2010-07-30

Turtle Top Recalls 2009 Transit Buses With Defective Wheelchair Lifts

Turtle Top is recalling 2009 transit and shuttle buses equipped with certain Ricon wheelchair lifts due to defective software that may cause the platform to overrun the vehicle floor level.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a risk-of-harm product where injury has not yet been reported, fitting the High severity criteria for potential tip-over or fall injuries.

Plain-English summary

Turtle Top is recalling certain model year 2009 transit and shuttle buses equipped with specific Ricon S Series and K Series L-Model wheelchair lifts. The affected vehicles include Freightliner Odyssey XL, Ford Van Terra, GM Terra Transport, Ford Odyssey, GM Odyssey, and Ford Odyssey LT models.

The wheelchair lifts contain defective software that controls the lift-up function. If the lift switch is released before the floor level limit switch is activated, the lift may continue traveling upward for approximately one second before stopping. This can cause the platform to travel past the vehicle floor level and stop at an angle of 15 to 20 degrees.

When the platform overruns the vehicle floor level at this angle, it is possible for a person in a wheelchair to tip over or for someone standing on the platform to fall, which may result in injuries. Turtle Top is working with Ricon to perform repairs through authorized Ricon dealers. Ricon will provide owners with a bulletin outlining proper wheelchair lift operation and ship a DVD-based training aid to promote proper lift operation. The safety recall began on October 8, 2010. Owners may contact Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884 or email [email protected].

The recalled product

Product
FREIGHTLINER, FORD, GM ODYSSEY XL, VAN TERRA, TERRA TRANSPORT, ODYSSEY
Brand
FREIGHTLINER
Manufacturer
TURTLE TOP
Category
Vehicle — Transit Bus
Hazard
Affected units
14

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (5)

  • ODYSSEY XL
  • VAN TERRA
  • TERRA TRANSPORT
  • ODYSSEY
  • ODYSSEY LT

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · FREIGHTLINER

Same manufacturer · TURTLE TOP

See all →

Same hazard · fall injury

See all →