Champion Bus, Inc.: Equipment
Champion Bus, Inc. reported this defect to federal regulators on Dec 18, 2012 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 73. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
Champion Bus is recalling certain model year 2006, and certain model year 2008-2013 buses, models: American Crusader, Challenger, Crusader, and Defender; manufactured September 30, 2006, through November 16, 2012. The buses are equipped with a Ricon manufactured wheelchair lift which has an optional armored pendant cable. The cable may have been installed such that it doesn't clear the wheelchair lift and without a protective cover, or a misinstalled protective cover.
The risk
The cable may contact the power lug at the base of the wheel chair lift causing a short circuit that could result in a fire.
The remedy
Champion Bus is working with Ricon to notify owners. Ricon will provide a supplemental cover kit with instructions, free of charge. Owners may contact Champion Bus at 1-819-724-6474 or Ricon at 1-818-267-3000.
16 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 Champion Challenger | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2013 Champion Bus Defender | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 Champion Challenger | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2012 Champion Bus Defender | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 Champion Challenger | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 Champion Crusader | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 Champion Bus Defender | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 Champion Challenger | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 Champion Crusader | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 2010 Champion Bus Defender | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 Champion American Crusader | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 Champion Challenger | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 Champion Crusader | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2009 Champion Bus Defender | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2008 Champion Challenger | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 2006 Champion Challenger | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 12V593000.
Full record for the 2013 Champion Challenger → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →