RoadVitals

2005 Champion Defender Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
Recall campaignsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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Newest Jul 30, 2009
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
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Open investigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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Recall campaigns

4 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Jul 30, 2009
36 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: CONTINUED CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE DIPSTICK TUBE COULD CAUSE A BRAKE FLUID LEAK AND REDUCE BRAKE PERFORMANCE, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS HANDLING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE 09V-114. DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL CORRECT THE CHASSIS IF FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FOR YOU FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.
CHAMPION BUS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Sep 25, 2008
503 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.
The remedy: CHAMPION BUS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR CHAMPION BUS AT 1-800-331-5761.
CHAMPION BUS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Apr 24, 2008
503 units potentially affected
The defect: 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.
The risk: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.
The remedy: CHAMPION BUS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR CHAMPION BUS AT 1-937-596-6849.
CHAMPION BUS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Apr 24, 2006
7 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH RICON S AND K SERIES PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS, THE VERTICAL SUPPORT ARMS FOR THE LIFTS WERE IMPROPERLY WELDED ALLOWING THE LIFT TO STOW IMPROPERLY.
The risk: IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION OCCURS DURING PASSENGER OPERATIONS IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE LIFT DOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE INTERLOCKS TO REMAIN ENGAGED PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE OR THE ABILITY TO LOAD OR UNLOAD PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES FROM THE VEHICLE.
The remedy: CHAMPION IS WORKING WITH RICON TO REMEDY THESE BUSES. THE TWO LIFT ARMS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR CHAMPION AT 1-810-724-6474.
CHAMPION BUS, INC.View on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
Safety investigation
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
Manufacturer communication
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources