July 25, 2019 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V554000
Roof Hatch External Handle May Break/FMVSS 217
If the roof hatch external handle breaks, in the event of an emergency, the hatch cannot be easily opened from outside the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA Campaign Number: 19V554
Manufacturer Champion Bus, Inc.
Components STRUCTURE
Potential Number of Units Affected 362
Summary
Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain 2019 Challenger
, Crusader, Defender and LF Transport and Goshen G-Force, Impulse and Pacer II shuttle buses equipped with Prolo roof emergency escape hatches. Due to a manufacturing issue, the roof hatch external handle may unexpectedly break under reasonable use.
Remedy
Champion will notify owners, and dealers will replace the handle, free of charge. The recall began September 16, 2019. Owners may contact Champion customer service 1-810-724-1753, extension 415.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL
NHTSA Recall 19V554
September 2019
This notice applies to your Champion vehicles with the following VIN(s):
Dear Customer:
This letter is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Champion Bus has decided that a defect which relates to mot or vehicle exists in certain Champion Bus and Goshen Coach built vehicles with Prolo installed escape hatches. The handles on the hatch were made with non-conforming handles. These uni t s were built between 8/1/18 and 5/21/19.
What is being recalled:
Prolo escape hatch handles built between 8/1/18 and 5/21/19.
Why is it being recalled:
The escape hatch handle was made with nonconforming material. The handle is susceptible to breaking off while rotating the handle. This can result in the hatch not opening from the outside in the event of an emergency. If the roof hatch external handle breaks, in the event of an emergency, the hatch cannot be easily opened from outside the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.
What you should do:
Contact Specialty Manufacturing for replacement handles
Corbin West
P: (704) 247-9300
E: [email protected]
Contact Champion Bus warranty department:
P: 810-724-3986
E: [email protected]
What we are doing about the problem:
Specialty Manufacturing will be sending out replacement handles at no charge to the customer for every affected unit SMI will reimburse up to $25.00 for labor to replace each handle.
After contacting Freedman and Champion Bus customer service, if you are still not able to have the safety defect remedied without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to write the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, S.E., Washington, DC 20590 or call 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); or go to https://www.safercar.gov.
If you had this repair performed before you received this letter, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement for the cost of obtaining a pre-notification remedy of the problem associated with this recall.
Federal law requires any lessor who receives a notification of a determination of a safety-related defect or noncompliance pertaining to any leased motor vehicle shall send the notice to the lessee within 10 days.
If you are no longer owner of this vehicle, please provide us with any contact information so we may contact the new owner.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Sincerely,
Champion Bus Customer Service
7 Affected Products
Vehicles
| MAKE | MODEL | YEAR |
| CHAMPION | CHALLENGER | 2019 |
| CHAMPION | CRUSADER | 2019 |
| CHAMPION | DEFENDER | 2019 |
| CHAMPION | LF TRANSPORT | 2019 |
| GOSHEN | G-FORCE | 2019 |
| GOSHEN | IMPULSE | 2019 |
| GOSHEN | PACER II | 2019 |
7 Associated Documents
Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2020-1
RCLQRT-19V554-4662.PDF 211.321KB
Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2019-4
RCLQRT-19V554-6615.PDF 211.236KB
Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)
RCONL-19V554-1454.pdf 477.179KB
Recall 573 Report-Amendment 1
RCLRPT-19V554-6976.PDF 214.602KB
Recall Acknowledgement
RCAK-19V554-9109.pdf 245.098KB
Defect Notice 573 Report
RCLRPT-19V554-3062.PDF 214.604KB
Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2019-3
RCLQRT-19V554-0598.PDF 211.135KB
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