2008 GMC C4500

Defect. CERTAIN INTERMOTIVE WHEELCHAIR LIFT INTERLOCK, P/NO. ILIS605-H3 ILIS ACTIVATION KIT (INTERLOCK OPTION FOR GATEWAY 401) SOLD FOR USE AS AFTERMARKET FOR 2005 - 2008 CHEVY 560 (C4500 AND C5500 KODIAK) 6.6L DIESEL VEHICLES WHICH A PROTECTION DIODE WAS USED. THE DIODE CAN BE EXPOSED TO VOLTAGE SPIKES GREATER THAN WHAT IT CAN WITHSTAND. THE DIODE COULD FAIL, WHICH COULD PREVENT VEHICLE INTERLOCK OPERATION WHEN A WHEELCHAIR LIFT IS DEPLOYED.

Risk. SHOULD THE DIODE FAIL, IT WILL BE POSSIBLE TO MOVE THE VEHICLE WITH THE WHEELCHAIR DEPLOYED, WHICH COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO ANYONE USING THE LIFT.

Remedy. INTERMOTIVE WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 20, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT INTERMOTIVE TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-969-6080. THIS RECALL ONLY PERTAINS TO AFTERMARKET INTERMOTIVE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS AND HAS NO RELATION TO ANY ORIGINAL EQUIPMENT INSTALLED ON CHEVRLOT AND GMC VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BY GENERAL MOTORS.

AT APPROXIMATELY 2:15 PM ON 9/16/2011 THIS AMBULANCE WAS TRAVELING AT 55-60 MPH IN ROUTE BACK TO THE STATION AFTER DROPPING A PATIENT AT THE HOSPITAL, THE DRIVER REPORTS THAT THERE WAS A LOAD POP!; FOLLOWED BY A HISSING SOUND UNDER THE HOOD. AS HE PROCEEDED TO MOVE TO THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD TO INVESTIGATE THE PROBLEM THE DRIVER OBSERVED WHITE SMOKE BILLOWING OUT THE BACK OF THE UNIT. BEFORE HE COULD GET STOPPED; THE WHITE SMOKE BEGAN ENTERING THE CAB THROUGH THE AC VENTS. HE PULLED OVER AND AS HE AND HIS EMT PARTNER EXITED THE VEHICLE THE FRONT END OF THE TRUCK ERUPTED IN FLAMES!!! THIS COULD HAVE BEEN A DISASTER HAD THERE BEEN A LIFE EMERGENCY IN THE PATIENT COMPARTMENT. ON 9/19, WE HAD THE UNIT INSPECTED BY THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE FORENSIC DIVISION. DURING THE FORENSIC INSPECTION IT WAS OBSERVED THAT THE RIGHT SIDE ALTERNATOR HAD SEIZED AND BROKEN IN HALF! WHEN THIS EVENT OCCURRED IT SEVERED THE THE AC COMPRESSOR LINES AND POSSIBLY OTHER LINES WITH FLAMMABLE FLUIDS AS THERE ARE PRESSURE AND RETURN LINES FOR ALL TYPES OF FLUIDS(FUEL, BRAKE FLUID, TRANSMISSION FLUID, POWER STEERING FLUID) LOCATED IN THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE ALTERNATOR. *KB