Defect. Eldorado National- Kansas (Eldorado) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Aerotech, AeroElite, Aerolite, Advantage, Transtech, and Krystal shuttle buses and model year 2006-2014 VersaShuttle shuttle buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to August 25, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by the Ricon Corporation. 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.
Risk. 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 wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.
Remedy. Eldorado 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 15, 2015. Owners may contact Eldorado customer service at 1-785-827-1033, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. 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.