The defect
ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ADHESIVELY BONDED ALUMINUM BUS DOOR PANELS, DUE TO AN IMPERFECT BONDING OF THE DOOR PANEL SKIN TO THE PANEL FRAME, ENVIRONMENTAL MOISTURE MAY INFILTRATE REGIONS OF IMPERFECT BONDING AND CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE FRAME AND DOOR PANEL.
The risk
UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, IF THE PANEL IS SEPARATING OR HAS SEPARATED, A PASSENGER COULD FALL FROM THE BUS ONTO THE ROADWAY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy
VAPOR WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS TO HAVE THEIR BUSES INSPECTED AND WILL INSTALL MECHANICAL FASTENERS TO ATTACH THE SKINS TO THE FRAME ELEMENTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VAPOR CORPORATION AT 847-967-8300 OR CHAMPION AT 1-810-724-6474.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Champion Bus | 1997, 1998, 1999 |
| Champion CGT | 1999 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Champion Bus | 1997 | 0 | 1 |
| Champion Bus | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| Champion Bus | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Champion CGT | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
Other structure recalls in 2002
14 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the structure; CHAMPION BUS, INC. filed 35 campaigns in all.
| 02V295000 14 Nov 2002 | WABASH NATIONAL CORP. |
| 02V292000 8 Nov 2002 | DIAMOND COACH CORPORATION |
| 02V273000 4 Oct 2002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V247000 13 Sept 2002 | AIRSTREAM, INC. |
| 02V237000 9 Sept 2002 | MONACO COACH CORP. |
| 02V200000 7 Aug 2002 | IC CORPORATION |
| 02V173000 12 Jul 2002 | IC CORPORATION |
| 02V167000 25 Jun 2002 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002