2009 GM Terra Transport Recalls

Recall Description

TURTLE TOP IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2010 TRANSIT AND SHUTTLE BUSES FITTED WITH RICON PUBLIC USE LIFTS. THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS WERE TO BE EQUIPPED WITH A RESTRAINT BUCKLE THAT HAS AN INTERLOCK FEATURE DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LIFT FROM OPERATING IF THE BUCKLE IS NOT LATCHED. IN THE RECALLED BUSES, HOWEVER, THE INTERLOCK FEATURE MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND THE LIFT MAY OPERATE EVEN WHEN THE BUCKLE IS NOT LATCHED.

Possible Effects

THE WHEELCHAIR MAY MOVE DURING LIFT OPERATION AND THE UNSECURED OCCUPANT, COULD BE INJURED.

Action

TURTLE TOP 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 OCTOBER 8, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-322-2884, OR EMAIL AT WWW.DMATA@WABTEC.COM.

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 <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

Recall Manufacture Dates

2007-12-01 - 2009-12-31

Vehicles Affected

138

Recall Description

TURTLE TOP IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 TRANSIT AND SHUTTLE BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN RICON S SERIES AND K SERIES L-MODEL WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS CONTAIN DEFECTIVE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLS THE LIFT UP FUNCTION. IF THE LIFT SWITCH IS RELEASED BEFORE THE FLOOR LEVEL LIMIT SWITCH IS ACTIVATED, THE LIFT MAY CONTINUE ITS UPWARD TRAVEL FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND BEFORE STOPPING, AND MAY TRAVEL PAST THE FLOOR LEVEL.

Possible Effects

WHEN THE PLATFORM OVERRUNS THE VEHICLE FLOOR LEVEL AND STOPS AT AN ANGLE FROM 15-20 DEGREES, IT IS POSSIBLE FOR A PERSON IN A WHEELCHAIR TO TIP OVER AND FOR SOMEONE STANDING ON THE PLATFORM TO FALL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.

Action

TURTLE TOP IS WORKING WITH RICON AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED RICON DEALERS. PLEASE SEE RICON''S DEFECT REPORT 09E-061. RICON WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH A BULLETIN OUTLINING PROPER WHEELCHAIR LIFT OPERATION AND WILL SHIP OWNERS A DVD-BASED TRAINING AID TO PROMOTE PROPER LIFT OPERATION. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-322-2884, OR EMAILING AT WWW.DMATA@WABTEC.COM.