2009 DIAMOND COACH VIP

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Diamond Coach Corporation (Diamond) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 VIP and PT 2000, 2200, 2500, 2800, 3200, and 3201 transit buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2011, and equipped with certain Ricon model S2010 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.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Diamond Coach Corporation (Diamond) is recalling certain model year 2006-2011 VIP and PT 2000, 2200, 2500, 2800, 3200, and 3201 transit buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to December 31, 2011, 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.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

DIAMOND COACH CORPORATION (DIAMOND COACH) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 PT AND VIP BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BRAUN CENTURY-2 AND VISTA-2 WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. OVER TIME, AND WITH FREQUENT USE, THE ROLL STOP LATCHES ON THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT’S 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’S OCCUPANT COULD FALL AND SUSTAIN INJURY.

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

DIAMOND COACH IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1, 2006 THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2010, AND 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.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

DIAMOND COACH HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 VIP COACHES FITTED WITH RICON PUBLIC USE LIFTS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 1, 2007 TO DECEMBER 18, 2009. 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.