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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Bluebird TC2000 | 1998 |
| Chevrolet 5500 | 2007 |
| Dodge Sprinter | 2007 |
| Ford E450 | 2004 |
| Freightliner Book Mobile | 2007 |
| International Bus | 2006 |
| Thomas Built Bus | 2005, 2006 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bluebird TC2000 | 1998 | 0 | 2 |
| Chevrolet 5500 | 2007 | 0 | 2 |
| Dodge Sprinter | 2007 | 47 | 5 |
| Ford E450 | 2004 | 0 | 2 |
| Freightliner Book Mobile | 2007 | 0 | 2 |
| International Bus | 2006 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Bus | 2005 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Bus | 2006 | 0 | 2 |
Other equipment adaptive/mobility recalls in 2008
101 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the equipment adaptive/mobility; MATTHEWS SPECIALTY VEHICLES filed 2 campaigns in all.
| 08V689000 23 Dec 2008 | NEW ENGLAND WHEELS |
| 08V671000 18 Dec 2008 | DOUBLE K INC. |
| 08V677000 18 Dec 2008 | COLONIAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY |
| 08V676000 18 Dec 2008 | COLONIAL EQUIPMENT COMPANY |
| 08V675000 18 Dec 2008 | A WORK OF ART MFG. |
| 08V670000 17 Dec 2008 | DOUBLE K INC. |
| 08V672000 17 Dec 2008 | KINGMOR SUPPLY, INC. |
| 08V673000 17 Dec 2008 | KINGMOR SUPPLY, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008