Recall 10V099000

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Report Date
20100316
Component
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Affected Vehicles
3 models

Defect Description

TRANS TECH HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN 2009 TRANS TECH SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 1 AND OCTOBER 31, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN RICON S SERIES AND K SERIES L-MODEL WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. DUE TO A PROBLEM IN THE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLS THE LIFTS UP FUNCTION, IF THE 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.

Safety Consequence

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.

Remedy

TRANSPORTATION COLLABORATIVE, INC. WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED RICON DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. CURRENTLY RICON IS DEVELOPING A SOFTWARE SOLUTION AND IS NOT AVAILABLE. UNTIL THE SOFTWARE SOLUTION IS AVAILABLE, RICON WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A BULLETIN OUTLINING PROPER WHEELCHAIR LIFT OPERATION AND WILL SHIP OWNERS A DVD-BASED TRAINING AID TO PROMOTE PROPER LIFT OPERATION AT NO COST. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR TCI AT 1-845-988-2333.

Affected Vehicles

Year Make Model
2009 TRANS TECH DW6158FRL
2009 TRANS TECH DW8195FRL
2009 TRANS TECH RONDAK DW5138FRL

Check your vehicle: Visit NHTSA.gov and enter your VIN to see if your specific vehicle is affected.