2013 CHAMPION DEFENDER Complaints and Recall Information
The 2013 CHAMPION DEFENDER has 0 complaints and 5 recalls filed with NHTSA. Owners most frequently report issues related to wheelchair lift equipment, seat belt wear, and warning devices based on recall data. No direct complaints have been recorded.
Five recalls affect various components including adaptive mobility equipment, seat belts, and safety warning devices. These recalls address defects that could compromise occupant safety or equipment functionality.
Recalls- Wheelchair lift platform side plate. (NHTSA 14V742000) 1229 vehicles are affected. The platform side plate may crack causing the lift platform to separate and potentially fall when the lift door opens, risking injury to the operator. Owners are notified to have supplemental support bumpers installed or cracked platforms replaced at no cost.
- Passenger seat belt webbing. (NHTSA 15V391000) 1818 vehicles are affected. Seat belts may fray due to rubbing against metal seat frames. This defect risks seat belts failing to restrain occupants properly in a crash. Dealers will add protective plastic sleeves and replace frayed belts free of charge.
- Wheelchair lift folding link arms. (NHTSA 15V757000) 1338 vehicles are affected. Oversized pivot holes allow bearings to shift, causing excess platform movement and risk of the platform falling when doors open. Inspections and part replacements are conducted free of charge. This recall follows a previous one covering the same components.
- Triangle warning signs. (NHTSA 14V821000) 773 vehicles are affected. Warning triangles manufactured by Imperial Supplies fail to reflect sufficient light, potentially increasing crash risk. Affected triangles are replaced free of charge after inspection.
- Wheelchair lift positioning input cam. (NHTSA 18V573000) 219 vehicles are affected. The input cam may fail allowing the wheelchair lift platform to stop higher than the vehicle floor height, causing wheelchair users to tip when exiting. The cam is replaced with a longer-lasting aluminum version at no cost.
Owners with repeated repairs or unresolved safety defects related to these recalls may have rights under their state lemon laws. Consulting legal advice to understand potential remedies is advisable when dealing with persistent issues or unresolved recall concerns.
2013 CHAMPION DEFENDER Summary
2013
Model Year
0
Total Complaints
5
Total Recalls
5377
Vehicles Affected
Recalls
2013 CHAMPION DEFENDER
219 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Champion Bus (Champion) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Champion American Coach, American Crusader, American S2, Challenger, Crusader, Defender, and Impulse vehicles, equipped with certain S-Series and K-Series Titanium Wheelchair Lifts, models K200, K201, K550, K551, S200, S2201, S550 and S551. The wheelchair lift positioning input cam may fail while the lift is in use, allowing the platform to travel higher than the vehicle's floor height.
Risk: If the wheelchair lift platform stops above the vehicle floor, the wheelchair user can tip inwards toward the vehicle when exiting the lift, increasing their risk of injury.
2013 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.
2013 CHAMPION DEFENDER
1818 vehicles affected
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:WEBBING
Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 American Crusader, American Coach, Challenger, Crusader, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, Defender, EZ Trans, HCAC, HC, DFUC, LF Transport, Premier, and Spirit transit buses manufactured March 1, 2013, to June 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the passenger seat belts may rub against the metal seat frame and fray. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Risk: A frayed seat belt fray may fail to properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
2013 CHAMPION DEFENDER
773 vehicles affected
EQUIPMENT
Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 American Crusader, Challenger, Crusader, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, Defender, EZ-Street, HC American, HCAC, LF Transport, M1235, Platinum Shuttle, Stacked Rail, and Federal Coach Premier, and Spirit transit buses manufactured January 1, 2012, to October 1, 2014, equipped with certain triangle warning signs manufactured by Imperial Supplies, LLC. Test reports indicate that the triangle warning signs, labeled C&J, may reflect an inadequate amount of light. As such, these triangle warning kits fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 125, "Warning devices."
Risk: Warning triangles that do not properly reflect light may fail to warn others that a vehicle is parked, increasing the risk of a crash.
2013 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.
Complaints
No complaints found.