Item Affected: EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE
Date Announced: 03/23/2010
Description of Recall: VAN-CON HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2009 HANDICAP SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON FORD AND CHEVY CHASSIS, FITTED WITH RICON PUBLIC USE LIFTS. THE RESTRAINT BELT ON THESE LIFTS WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LIFT FROM MOVING, UNLESS THE TONGUE OF THE BELT IS FULLY ENGAGED AND LATCHED IN THE BUCKLE. RICON HAS DISCOVERED, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE OPERATOR TO INSERT THE BELT TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE WITHOUT FULLY ENGAGING THE LATCHING MECHANISM. IN THIS CASE, THE RESTRAINT BELT WOULD APPEAR TO BE LATCHED, AND THE OPERATOR COULD RUN THE LIFT. IF THE RESTRAINT BELT TONGUE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED INTO THE RESTRAINT BELT BUCKLE, AND LATCHED, THE LIFT MAY OPERATE WITH AN OCCUPANT ON THE PLATFORM.
Conequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE WITHOUT THE RESTRAINT BELT PROPERLY BUCKLED.
Action Need To Fix It: VAN-CON IS WORKING WITH RICON AND RICON WILL BE HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE RICON'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-060. RICON WILL PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH A WARNING DECAL AND A DVD-BASED TRAINING AID. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-322-2884 OR BY EMAIL AT [email protected].
Notes: OWNERS 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 .
Item Affected: SUSPENSION:FRONT:CONTROL ARM:LOWER ARM
Date Announced: 09/03/1970
Description of Recall:
Conequence:
Action Need To Fix It:
Notes: POSSIBILITY THAT CRACKS CAN BE INDUCED IN FRONT LOWER CONTROL ARMS IF FRONTSUSPENSION IS REPEATEDLY SUBJECTED TO VERY SEVERE LOADING SOMETIMESENTERCOUNTERED IN POLICE SERVICE. SUCH CRACKING COULD ULTIMATELY RESULT INFRACTURE THROUGH ARM IN BALL JOINT AREA, AND CAUSE DISCON- NECTION BETWEENLOWER CONTROL ARM AND FRONT WHEEL WHICH WOULD SERIOUSLY HAMPER DRIVER'S ABILITYTO FULLY CONTROL VEHICLE. (CORRECT BY REPLACING WITH A HEAVY DUTY IMPROVEDARM.)
