2009 CHAMPION DEFENDER Complaints and Recall Information
The 2009 CHAMPION DEFENDER has 0 complaints and 7 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners frequently report issues related to wheelchair lift systems and electrical components based on recall data. There are no owner-submitted complaints recorded for this model year.
The vehicle has seven recalls affecting various systems including adaptive mobility equipment and electrical components. The recalls mostly involve defects in wheelchair lifts and related hardware, as well as air conditioning and electrical systems. These recall actions address safety risks such as lift failures and potential fires.
Recalls- Adaptive mobility restraints. NHTSA recall 10V129000 affects 300 vehicles with Ricon public use lifts. The restraint belt may appear latched without fully engaging, allowing lift movement with an occupant on the platform, posing injury risk. The fix includes a warning decal and DVD training provided by Ricon, started May 2010.
- Air conditioner fuse holder. Recall 11V141000 covers 974 vehicles with Carrier GENV EM-1 evaporators. The fuse may loosen causing arcing, leading to melting, smoke, fire risk. Owners receive retrofit kits and free repairs starting March 2011.
- Wheelchair lift software. Recall 10V131000 involves 223 buses with Ricon S and K series L-model lifts. The lift may continue moving up after switch release, exceeding floor level and creating fall hazards. Repairs and training are provided by Ricon from May 2010.
- Wheelchair lift roll stop latches. Recall 12V275000 affects 892 buses with Braun Century-2 or Vista-2 lifts. Roll stop latches may bend or misalign, allowing occupant falls when platform is elevated. Repairs offered free by Braun starting August 2012.
- Door header circuit boards. Recall 13V422000 covers 598 buses with A&M Systems door headers with model 3230 boards. Voltage spikes may cause overheating, increasing fire risk. Dealers will inspect and replace boards free of charge, recall began October 2013.
- Wheelchair lift platform side plates. Recall 14V742000 involves 1229 buses with certain Ricon lifts between 2006-2014. Platform side plates may crack, causing the platform to separate and fall when doors open, risking injury. Supplemental supports or replacements provided starting November 2014.
- Wheelchair lift folding link arms. Recall 15V757000 affects 1338 buses with Ricon lifts manufactured 2006-2015. Oversized pivot holes allow bearings to displace, risking platform mounting failure and fall out. Inspections and part replacements began December 2015. This recall follows a similar 2014 recall addressing the same lifts.
Owners with repeated repairs related to wheelchair lifts or electrical defects, or those affected by these recalls with unresolved issues, may have rights under state lemon laws. Consulting legal resources for such situations is recommended.
2009 CHAMPION DEFENDER Summary
2009
Model Year
0
Total Complaints
7
Total Recalls
5554
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2009 CHAMPION DEFENDER
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.
2009 CHAMPION DEFENDER
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.
2009 CHAMPION DEFENDER
598 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL
Champion Bus is recalling certain model year 2010 American Crusader, American Coach, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, and IC Low Floor buses; and 2009-2010 Challenger and Crusader buses; and 2009-2011 Defender and EZ Trans buses; and 2010-2011 IC High Floor buses. The buses are manufactured from August 1, 2009, through May 19, 2011, and equipped with A&M Systems door headers containing model 3230 circuit boards. Voltage spikes may damage electrical components and electrical circuits, causing the circuit board to develop high resistance.
Risk: High resistance may cause the board to overheat, increasing the risk of a fire.
2009 CHAMPION DEFENDER
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.
2009 CHAMPION DEFENDER
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.
2009 CHAMPION DEFENDER
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.
2009 CHAMPION DEFENDER
223 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
CHAMPION BUS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2007 AND FEBRUARY 2010, EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN RICON S SERIES AND K SERIES L-MODEL WHEELCHAIR LIFTS, DUE TO A PROBLEM IN THE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLS THE LIFT'S "UP" FUNCTION. IF THE "UP" SWITCH IS RELEASED BEFORE THE FLOOR LEVEL LIMIT SWITCH IS ACTIVATED, THE LIFT MAY CONTINUE ITS UPWARD TRAVEL FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND BEFORE STOPPING. THE CONTINUED UPWARD TRAVEL MAY OVERRUN THE FLOOR LEVEL CUT OFF POINT.
Risk: WHEN THE PLATFORM OVERRUNS THE VEHICLE FLOOR LEVEL AND STOPS AT AN ANGLE FROM 15-20 DEGREES, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR TO TIP OVER AND FOR SOMEONE STANDING ON THE PLATFORM TO FALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.
Complaints
No complaints found.