The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·15V779000·Announced 2015-11-20

Ford E-Series Vans Recalled for Wheelchair Lift Bearing Defect

New England Wheels is recalling 2006-2014 Ford E-250 and E-350 vans with specific Ricon wheelchair lifts. Defective pivot holes may allow bearings to shift, causing the lift platform to fall and injure the operator.

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, creating a risk of injury to the operator. No injuries or fatalities are reported in the source text, fitting the 'High' criteria for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

New England Wheels is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Ford E-250 and E-350 cargo vans that were modified with specific Ricon Corporation wheelchair lifts. The affected lifts are models S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510. The defect involves folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too large, which allows the bearings to move out of position.

If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may experience excessive movement, leading to a 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 to the lift operator. The source notes that these vehicles were subject to a similar recall in 2014, and those that received the previous remedy are still affected by this current recall.

New England Wheels will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or displaced bearings and inspect the platform for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on January 5, 2016. Owners can contact New England Wheels customer service at 1-800-866-9247 or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. New England Wheels' number for this recall is 15E-068.

The recalled product

Product
FORD E-250, E-350
Brand
FORD
Manufacturer
New England Wheels
Category
Vehicle — Wheelchair Lift
Hazard
Affected units
278

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 (2)

  • E-250
  • E-350

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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