2008 CHAMPION CHALLENGER Complaints and Recall Information
The 2008 CHAMPION CHALLENGER has 0 complaints and 8 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report issues related to wheelchair lift safety and air conditioning systems based on recall data.
There are eight recalls affecting various systems including air conditioning electrical components and adaptive mobility devices such as wheelchair lifts. These recalls address potential fire hazards and safety risks related to lift operation and component failure.
Recalls- Air conditioning electrical system. Recall 10V127000 affected 191 vehicles. Improper installation of the Trans/Air relay board and EC PC board can cause overheating posing a serious fire hazard. Dealers will repair affected buses free of charge.
- Wheelchair lift restraint belt. Recall 10V129000 involved 300 vehicles with Ricon public use lifts. The restraint belt may appear latched when it is not, allowing the lift to move and potentially injure an occupant. Remedy includes a warning decal and training aid.
- Carrier GENV EM-1 evaporator fuse. Recall 11V141000 affected 974 vehicles. The fuse can loosen causing arcing that may lead to melting and fire. Owners will receive retrofit kits and repair instructions free of charge.
- Wheelchair lift pendant cable. Recall 12V593000 involved 73 vehicles. The armored pendant cable may contact the power lug causing a short circuit and fire risk. Supplementary cover kits will be provided to owners for free.
- Trans Air evaporator power resistor. Recall 10V593000 affected 107 buses. A short circuit can cause the resistor to overheat and ignite the blower housing plastic. A thermal shutdown device will be installed at no cost.
- Barn Century-2 and Vista-2 wheelchair lifts. Recall 12V275000 involved 892 vehicles. Roll stop latches may become bent or misaligned allowing a wheelchair occupant to fall from the elevated lift platform. Authorized dealers will perform free repairs.
- Ricon wheelchair lift platform side plate. Recall 14V742000 affected 1,229 buses. Side plates may crack causing the platform to separate and fall when doors open, risking injury. Supplemental support bumpers or part replacement will be provided at no charge.
- Ricon wheelchair lift folding link arms. Recall 15V757000 involved 1,338 vehicles. Oversized pivot holes allow bearings to move out of position, risking platform failure and fall out of the vehicle. Inspections and replacement of damaged parts will be performed free of charge.
Owners dealing with repeated repairs, safety defects, or unresolved recall issues involving critical safety systems such as fire risks or mobility lift failures may have rights under their state lemon law. Consulting consumer protection resources or legal counsel could provide guidance on these matters.
2008 CHAMPION CHALLENGER Summary
2008
Model Year
0
Total Complaints
8
Total Recalls
5104
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2008 CHAMPION CHALLENGER
1338 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Challenger, Defender, Crusader, American, American Coach, American Crusader, Corporal, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, HC American, Platinum Shuttle, and Stacked Rail transit buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to August 25, 2015, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts. 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.
2008 CHAMPION CHALLENGER
1229 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion Bus) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 American Coach, American Crusader, Challenger, Corporal, Crusader, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, Defender, HCAC, HC American, Platinum Shuttle, and Stacked Rail transit buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to July 31, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.
2008 CHAMPION CHALLENGER
892 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BRAUN CENTURY-2 AND/OR VISTA-2 WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. OVER TIME AND WITH FREQUENT USE, THE ROLL STOP LATCHES ON THE OUTER BARRIER MAY BECOME BENT OR MISALIGNED.
Risk: A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT MAY DEFEAT OR RIDE OVER THE INSUFFICIENTLY LATCHED ROLL STOP. IF THIS OCCURS WHEN THE LIFT PLATFORM IS IN AN ELEVATED POSITION, THE WHEELCHAIR¬ÃS OCCUPANT COULD FALL AND SUSTAIN INJURY.
2008 CHAMPION CHALLENGER
73 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT
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.
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.
2008 CHAMPION CHALLENGER
974 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH CARRIER GENV EM-1 EVAPORATOR UNITS. DUE TO TIME, TEMPERATURE, AND/OR VIBRATION, THE FUSE MAY LOOSEN IN THE FUSE HOLDER RESULTING IN HIGH RESISTANCE AND ARCING.
Risk: IF SUFFICIENT ARCING OCCURS, THE FUSE HOLDER MAY MELT, AND MAY BE ACCOMPANIED BY FLAME, SMOKE AND POTENTIAL FIRE.
2008 CHAMPION CHALLENGER
300 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
CHAMPION BUS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 BUSES FITTED WITH RICON PUBLIC USE LIFTS. THE RESTRAINT BELT ON THESE LIFTS WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LIFT FROM MOVING, UNLESS THE TONGUE OF THE BELT IS FULLY ENGAGED AND LATCHED IN THE BUCKLE. RICON HAS DISCOVERED, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE OPERATOR TO INSERT THE BELT TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE WITHOUT FULLY ENGAGING THE LATCHING MECHANISM. IN THIS CASE, THE RESTRAINT BELT WOULD APPEAR TO BE LATCHED, AND THE OPERATOR COULD RUN THE LIFT. IF THE RESTRAINT BELT TONGUE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED INTO THE RESTRAINT BELT BUCKLE, AND LATCHED, THE LIFT MAY OPERATE WITH AN OCCUPANT ON THE PLATFORM.
Risk: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE WITHOUT THE RESTRAINT BELT PROPERLY BUCKLED.
2008 CHAMPION CHALLENGER
191 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
CHAMPION BUS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 BUSES EQUIPPED WITH TRANS/AIR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS INSTALLED BETWEEN MAY 2006 AND JUNE 2009. EACH TRANS/AIR SYSTEM COMES WITH AN ELECTRICAL KIT WHICH CONTAINS A RELAY BOARD AND EC PC BOARD WHICH IF IMPROPERLY INSTALLED COULD OVERHEAT.
Risk: AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE RELAY BOARD, CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING AND POSE A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD.
2008 CHAMPION CHALLENGER
107 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT
CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH TRANS AIR TA 73 EVAPORATORS. THE EVAPORATOR UTILIZES A POWER RESISTOR TO REGULATE BLOWER SPEED. SHOULD A SHORT OCCUR IN THE "LOW OR MEDIUM SPEED" CIRCUIT WHILE THE BLOWER IS IN HIGH SPEED, THE SHORT WILL CAUSE THE SUPPLY VOLTAGE TO FEEDBACK THROUGH THE RESISTOR TO GROUND, NOT DRAWING ENOUGH CURRENT TO TRIP THE FUSE.
Risk: THIS WOULD CAUSE THE RESISTOR TEMPERATURE TO RISE TO A POINT WHERE IT WILL MELT AND POSSIBLY IGNITE THE PLASTIC BLOWER HOUSING TO WHICH IT IS MOUNTED. THE OVERHEATING CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.
Complaints
No complaints found.