The defect
CERTAIN MY 2006 AND 2007 THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR, FS-65, C2, HDX, AND EF SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 6 AND SEPTEMBER 6, 2006, EQUIPPED WITH RICON WHEELCHAIR PLATFORM LIFT MODELS S2003, S2005, S2010, S5503, S5505, S5510, K2003, K2005, K2010, K5503, K5505, K5510. THE LIFTS INTERLOCK SWITCH SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER (EITHER WHEELCHAIR OR STANDEE) ON THE PLATFORM LIFT WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.
The risk
THE DEFECT INVOLVES THE INTERLOCK SWITCH SYSTEM IN THE LIFT NOT DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER (EITHER WHEELCHAIR OR STANDEE) ON THE RICON WHEELCHAIR PLATFORM LIFT. IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION OCCURS DURING PASSENGER OPERATIONS IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR THE WHEELCHAIR TO TIP BACKWARDS ONTO THE PLATFORM WHEN THE PLATFORM WAS LOWERED. THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE WHEELCHAIR'S OCCUPANT. ALSO, ANYONE STANDING ON THE PLATFORM COULD LOSE HIS OR HER BALANCE AND FALL, RESULTING IN INJURY.
The remedy
FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL REPAIR THE AFFECTED BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON AUGUST 6, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FREIGHTLINER'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 800-385-4357 OR CONTACT RICON AT 800-322-2884.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses C2 | 2006, 2007 |
| Thomas Built Buses EF | 2006, 2007 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 2006, 2007 |
| Thomas Built Buses HDX | 2006, 2007 |
| Thomas Built Buses Minotour | 2006, 2007 |
Components: EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses C2 | 2006 | 1 | 6 |
| Thomas Built Buses C2 | 2007 | 6 | 6 |
| Thomas Built Buses EF | 2006 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Buses EF | 2007 | 1 | 1 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 2006 | 1 | 11 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 2007 | 2 | 9 |
| Thomas Built Buses HDX | 2006 | 0 | 12 |
| Thomas Built Buses HDX | 2007 | 0 | 12 |
| Thomas Built Buses Minotour | 2006 | 0 | 22 |
| Thomas Built Buses Minotour | 2007 | 0 | 23 |
Other equipment adaptive/mobility recalls in 2007
25 of the 587 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2007 concerned the equipment adaptive/mobility; FREIGHTLINER LLC filed 99 campaigns in all.
| 07V593000 21 Dec 2007 | ELDORADO NATIONAL - CALIFORNIA, INC. |
| 07V575000 15 Dec 2007 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 07V567000 14 Dec 2007 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. |
| 07V565000 13 Dec 2007 | GIRARDIN MINIBUS INC. |
| 07V556000 11 Dec 2007 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 07V224000 1 Jun 2007 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 07V223000 28 May 2007 | U.S. BUS CORPORATION |
| 07V189000 1 May 2007 | GIRARDIN MINIBUS INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2007