Access the National Highway Traffic Safety database of CHAMPION DEFENDER recalls and defective parts found
on CHAMPION DEFENDER automobiles. The National Highway Traffic Safety administration is authorized
to order the CHAMPION DEFENDER manufacturers to recall and repair vehicles or parts of motor vehicle
equipment when its investigation indicates that they contain serious safety defects in their design,
structure, body, or performance.
Vehicle | Component | Manufacterer |
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2007-2010 CHAMPION DEFENDER | EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE Units affected: 300 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. Report Date: 2010-04-02 |
Summary: 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. | |
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2008-2010 CHAMPION DEFENDER | EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE Units affected: 223 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. Report Date: 2010-04-02 |
Summary: 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. | |
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2007-2008 CHAMPION DEFENDER | EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER Units affected: 191 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. Report Date: 2010-03-31 |
Summary: 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. | |
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2009 CHAMPION DEFENDER | EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER Units affected: 6 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. Report Date: 2009-10-29 |
Summary: CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CARRIER K410 ROOFTOP CONDENSERS. INADEQUATE OVERCURRENT PROTECTION OF ONE OR MORE OF THE FANS IN THE K410 CONDENSER MAY CAUSE OVERHEATING OF THE FAN'S WIRES. | |
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2003-2009 CHAMPION DEFENDER | INTERIOR LIGHTING Units affected: 69 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. Report Date: 2009-09-24 |
Summary: CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2010 TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 2003 AND AUGUST 2009 EQUIPPED WITH LUMINATOR HORIZON LED SIDE DESTINATION SIGNS. THE CONNECTOR BOARD CAN CORRODE DUE TO AN ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE UNDER THE CONNECTOR. | |
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2004-2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER | SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC Units affected: 36 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. Report Date: 2009-07-30 |
Summary: CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING 36 MODEL YEAR 2004, 2005, AND 2007 DEFENDER AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 M1000 BUSES BUILT BETWEEN APRIL 12, 2004 AND SEPTEMBER 18, 2006. CERTAIN HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES MAY CONTACT THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK TUBE AS THE ENGINE ROCKS. | |
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2005-2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER | EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE Units affected: 503 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. Report Date: 2008-09-25 |
Summary: CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING 503 MY 2005-2007 CHALLENGER, CRUSADER, DEFENDER, MY 2005-2006 CORPORAL, MY 2006 CTS-RE, AND MY 2007 CTS-FE AND IC DEFENDER TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH A RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFT. THIS LIFT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT. | |
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2007-2008 CHAMPION DEFENDER | EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:AIR CONDITIONER Units affected: 68 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. Report Date: 2008-07-17 |
Summary: CHAMPION IS RECALLING 68 MY 2007-2009 TRANSIT BUSES. THE FASTENERS THAT ARE USED TO HOLD ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS IN PLACE ON THE ROOF MOUNTED AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL PANEL MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED DOWN TO THE PROPER TORQUE AND/OR THERE MAY BE A POSSIBLE FRAYED WIRE AT THE CONNECTION POINT. | |
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2007-2008 CHAMPION DEFENDER | EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE Units affected: 31 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. Report Date: 2008-05-19 |
Summary: CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING 31 MY 2007-2008 DEFENDER, CHALLENGER AND MY 2008 CRUSADER BUSES BUILT ON GENERAL MOTORS 560 CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH INTERMOTIVE GATEWAY 401 MODULE INTERLOCK HARNESS. THESE BUSES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO EXHIBIT EXTREME VOLTAGE SPIKES DURING ENGINE CRANKING. THESE EXTREME SPIKES CAN DAMAGE THE DIODE IN THE HARNESS NEAR THE SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID CONNECTOR. IF THE DIODE FAILS IN THE SHORTED CONDITION, THE GATEWAY 401 MODULE CAN BE DAMAGED. | |
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2005-2008 CHAMPION DEFENDER | EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE Units affected: 503 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. Report Date: 2008-04-24 |
Summary: CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING 503 MY 2005-2008 DEFENDER, CHALLENGER, CTS-RE, CTS-FE AND CRUSADER BUSES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA. | |
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