The defect
ON CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CP TRAVELING RETRACTOR LAP (TYPE 1) SEAT BELTS, THE PLASTIC COVER HOUSING THE RESERVE END OF THE SEAT BELT WEB CAN BREAK. IF THE TWO HALVES OF THE COVER COMPLETELY SEPARATE, THE CONNECTOR PORTION OF THE BELT WILL DETACH FROM THE COVER. ONCE DETACHED, THE CONNECTOR RIVET CAN SEPARATE FROM THE CONNECTOR FRAME CAUSING THE FRAME TO BECOME UNUSABLE.
The risk
THIS CONDITION CANNOT OCCUR DURING USE, HOWEVER, THE BELT WILL BE UNSUABLE AND MAY RESULT IN AN OCCUPANT SEATING POSITION WITHOUT A SEAT BELT. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, AN UNBELTED INDIVIDUAL COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED OR KILLED.
The remedy
AMSAFE WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A PLASTIC OUTER COVER THAT SNAPS OVER THE EXISTING COVER ON UNITS IN THE FIELD AND WILL REPLACE BROKEN SEAT BELTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AMSAFE AT 574-266-8330 OR CHAMPION AT 810-724-6474.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Champion CGT | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Champion Challenger | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Champion Contender | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Champion Crusader | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Champion CTS | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Champion Defender | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Champion General | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
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 CGT | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| Champion CGT | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Champion CGT | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Champion CTS | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Champion CTS | 2000 | 0 | 3 |
| Champion CTS | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| Champion Challenger | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| Champion Challenger | 2000 | 0 | 3 |
| Champion Challenger | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| Champion Contender | 1999 | 1 | 1 |
| Champion Contender | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
| Champion Contender | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Champion Crusader | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Champion Crusader | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
| Champion Crusader | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Champion Defender | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Champion Defender | 2000 | 0 | 3 |
| Champion Defender | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| Champion General | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Champion General | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
| Champion General | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2002
23 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the seat belts; CHAMPION BUS, INC. filed 35 campaigns in all.
| 02V160008 21 Nov 2002 | XPLORER MTR HM/FRANK DIV. |
| 02V290000 5 Nov 2002 | HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V160009 31 Oct 2002 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 02V160005 22 Oct 2002 | DODGEN INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 02V160007 21 Oct 2002 | NATIONAL VAN SALES, INC. |
| 02V160004 18 Oct 2002 | ELDORADO NATIONAL |
| 02V160003 16 Oct 2002 | COACH AND EQUIPMENT MFG CORP |
| 02V281000 15 Oct 2002 | ISUZU MOTORS LIMITED |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002