The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·15V757000·Announced 2015-11-16

Champion Transit Buses Recalled for Wheelchair Lift Bearing Defect

Champion is recalling 2006-2015 transit buses equipped with specific wheelchair lifts where oversized pivot holes may allow bearings to move, risking platform failure and injury.

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 structural defect in a wheelchair lift that could cause the platform to fall, increasing the risk of injury to the operator. No injuries or fatalities are reported in the source text, and the agency classification is not provided, fitting the criteria for a risk-of-harm product where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

Champion Bus, Inc. 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. The recall affects vehicles manufactured between January 1, 2006, and August 25, 2015, that are 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. 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 wheelchair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

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.

The recalled product

Product
CHAMPION CORPORAL, CHALLENGER, AMERICAN COACH, CRUSADER
Brand
CHAMPION
Manufacturer
Champion Bus, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Transit Bus
Hazard
Affected units
1,338

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 (12)

  • CORPORAL
  • CHALLENGER
  • AMERICAN COACH
  • CRUSADER
  • AMERICAN CRUSADER
  • AMERICAN
  • PLATINUM SHUTTLE
  • HC AMERICAN
  • CTS-RE
  • CTS-FE
  • STACKED RAIL
  • DEFENDER

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · CHAMPION

Same manufacturer · Champion Bus, Inc.

See all →

Same hazard · structural failure

See all →