RoadVitals

NHTSA safety recall

Recall 08V526000: EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

MATTHEWS SPECIALTY VEHICLES · Reported to NHTSA Oct 8, 2008

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
Units potentially affectedThe manufacturer's own estimate of how many vehicles or items of equipment may contain the defect. It is not a count of failures, and not every unit in the range is necessarily affected.
8
Model years coveredModel years in our database that NHTSA matched to this campaign. Whether an individual vehicle is covered still depends on its VIN.
8
Models covered
7
Grouped from the model years above
Reported to NHTSA
Oct 8, 2008

What this recall covers

NHTSA's campaign record, quoted as published

The defect

MATTHEWS IS RECALLING 8 MY 1998 BLUEBIRD, MY 2004 FORD E450, MY 2005-2006 THOMAS BUILT BUS, MY 2006 INTERNATIONAL BUS, MY 2007 CHEVROLET 5500, FREIGHTLINER AND DODGE SPRINTER TRUCKS, TRANSIT BUSES, AND SPECIALTY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE 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

MATTHEWS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR MATTEWS SPECIALTY AT 336-297-9600.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

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.

Campaign details

Identifiers and dates as filed with NHTSA

Manufacturer
MATTHEWS SPECIALTY VEHICLES
Manufacturer's campaign number
Not recorded
NHTSA campaign number
08V526000
Units potentially affected
8
Report received
Oct 8, 2008
Production range
Not recorded
Campaign type
Vehicle
Federal safety standard (FMVSS)
403

Vehicles covered

8 model years across 7 models

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.