The Recall Desk
Our severity:HighNHTSA·16V631000·Announced 2016-08-31

Thomas Built Buses Recall Wheelchair Lifts Due to Bearing Defect

Daimler Trucks is recalling 2015-2017 Thomas Built Buses equipped with certain Ricon wheelchair lifts because pivot holes may allow bearings to move, risking platform failure.

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 vehicle component that could cause the wheelchair lift platform to fall, increasing the risk of injury to the operator. No injuries or deaths 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

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 and Saf-T-Liner HDX transit buses. These vehicles were manufactured between July 15, 2014, and July 21, 2016, and are equipped with specific Ricon wheelchair lift models (S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510). The recall involves 3 affected vehicles.

The defect involves folding link arms on the wheelchair lifts that may have pivot holes that are too large. This can allow the bearings to move out of position. If the bearings shift, the stowed platform may move excessively, potentially causing the platform mounting to fail. 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.

DTNA 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 October 10, 2016. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.

The recalled product

Product
THOMAS BUILT BUSES SAF-T-LINER C2, SAF-T-LINER HDX
Brand
THOMAS BUILT BUSES
Manufacturer
Daimler Trucks North America LLC
Category
Vehicle — Transit Bus
Hazard
Affected units
3

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)

  • SAF-T-LINER C2
  • SAF-T-LINER HDX

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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