2003 Champion Defender

Routine

No owner complaints are on file for this vehicle. It has been recalled 2 times.

2 safety recalls

Part 573 reports

Interior Lighting09V369000

Filed Sep 24, 200969 vehiclesChampion Bus, Inc.

Defect. CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2010 TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 2003 AND AUGUST 2009 EQUIPPED WITH LUMINATOR HORIZON LED SIDE DESTINATION SIGNS. THE CONNECTOR BOARD CAN CORRODE DUE TO AN ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE UNDER THE CONNECTOR.

Risk. A SHORT COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY CAUSING SMOKE AND FIRE.

Remedy. CHAMPION BUS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND LUMINATOR WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE LUMINATOR'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-054. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LUMINATOR AT 1-972-516-3033 OR CHAMPION BUS AT 1-800-331-5761.

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility04V521000

Filed Nov 2, 2004231 vehiclesChampion Bus, Inc.

Defect. ON CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS, THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY IS OUT OF ALIGNMENT.

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES TO A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT.

Remedy. SURE-LOK IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT RETRACTORS AS NECESSARY. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SURE-LOCK AT 1-908-231-1804 OR CHAMPION AT 810-724-6474.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2019

Year	Recalls	Assessment
2019	1	Routine
2018	2	Routine
2017	2	Routine
2016	1	Routine
2015	4	Routine
2014	6	Routine
2013	5	Routine
2012	4	Routine
2011	3	Routine
2010	7	Routine
2009	9	Routine
2008	11	Routine
2007	10	Routine
2006	5	Routine
2005	4	Routine
2004	2	Routine
2003 — this page	2	Routine
2002	2	Routine
2001	3	Routine
2000	3	Routine
1999	1	Routine

Compare every Defender year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Sep 24, 2009. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.