Champion Bus Recalls Vehicles Due to Air Conditioner Fire Risk
Champion Bus is recalling certain models because a loose fuse in the air conditioner may cause arcing, melting, and potential fire.
What this means for you
Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 3/5 (High).
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 (fire hazard) where injury has not yet been reported, fitting the High severity criteria.
Plain-English summary
Champion Bus, Inc. is recalling certain 2007-2011 Challenger, Defender, American Coach, Crusader, American Crusader, CTS, and EZ-Trans vehicles. The recall involves vehicles equipped with Carrier GenV EM-1 evaporator units. Due to time, temperature, and/or vibration, the fuse may loosen in the fuse holder, resulting in high resistance and arcing.
If sufficient arcing occurs, the fuse holder may melt, which may be accompanied by flame, smoke, and potential fire. The source text does not report any specific injuries or deaths associated with this defect.
Champion Bus will notify owners and provide information on how to obtain a retrofit kit from Carrier along with repair instructions. This service will be performed free of charge. Owners may contact Carrier at 1-800-793-4741 or Champion Bus at 1-810-724-6474. The safety recall began on March 8, 2011.
The recalled product
- Product
- CHAMPION, CHAMPION BUS CHALLENGER, AMERICAN CRUSADER, CTS, CRUSADER
- Brand
- CHAMPION
- Manufacturer
- CHAMPION BUS, INC.
- Category
- Vehicle — Bus
- Hazard
- Affected units
- 974
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 (7)
- CHALLENGER
- AMERICAN CRUSADER
- CTS
- CRUSADER
- DEFENDER
- AMERICAN COACH
- EZ-TRANS
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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