Recall 10V264000

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Report Date
20100615
Component
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Affected Vehicles
4 models

Defect Description

COACH & EQUIPMENT IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2010 PHOENIX SHUTTLE BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2007 THROUGH JANUARY 2010 AND FITTED 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, SHOULD THE "UP" BUTTON BE RELEASED BEFORE THE FLOOR LEVEL LIMIT SWITCH IS ACTIVATED, THE LIFT MAY CONTINUE ITS UPWARD TRAVEL AND 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

COACH & EQUIPMENT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED RICON DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. A SOFTWARE SOLUTION FOR THIS SAFETY DEFECT IS UNDER INVESTIGATION. 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 IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR COACH & EQUIPMENT AT 1-315-536-2321.

Affected Vehicles

Year Make Model
2007 COACH & EQUIPMENT PHOENIX
2008 COACH & EQUIPMENT PHOENIX
2009 COACH & EQUIPMENT PHOENIX
2010 COACH & EQUIPMENT PHOENIX

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