The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·16V350000·Announced 2016-05-24

Ford Vans Recalled for Wheelchair Lift Platform Cracking and Bearing Issues

New England Wheels is recalling Ford E-250, E-350, and Transit vans equipped with specific Ricon wheelchair lifts. The platform side plates may crack or bearings may shift, causing the platform to fall and injure the operator.

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 structural defect in a wheelchair lift that poses a risk of injury to the operator if the platform falls, but the source text does not report any actual injuries or fatalities, 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 vans, as well as 2015 Ford Transit vans, that are equipped with specific Ricon wheelchair lifts (models S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510). The recall addresses defects in the platform side plates and the folding link arms of the lift equipment.

The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack. Additionally, the 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 platform side plates crack or the platform mounting fails due to out-of-position bearings, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the vehicle's doors are opened, the platform may fall onto the lift operator, increasing their risk of injury.

New England will notify owners, and Ricon dealers 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 June 29, 2016. Owners may contact New England customer service at 1-800-886-9247 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
FORD E-250, E-350, TRANSIT
Brand
FORD
Manufacturer
New England Wheels
Category
Vehicle — Wheelchair Lift
Hazard
Affected units
2

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 (3)

  • E-250
  • E-350
  • TRANSIT

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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