Champion M1235 recalls by model year

Reported: 2008-02-06 (February 6, 2008) · Model years: 2007, 2008

CHAMPION IS RECALLING 20 MY 2007-2008 M1235 BUSES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVES. THE INTERNAL RUBBER CHECK VALVE MAY LEAK CAUSING A DELAY IN THE APPLICATION OF THE SPRING BRAKES TO PARK THE VEHICLE AFTER THE OPERATOR PULLS THE DASH VALVE BUTTON.

Consequence: THIS COULD CAUSE A DELAY OR FAILURE IN APPLYING THE PARKING BRAKES WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ROLL AWAY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: CHAMPION BUS IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER AND BENDIX TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLES (PLEASE SEE 07V302 AND 07E037). BENDIX WILL INSTALL A CHECK VALVE REPAIR KIT FOR THE AFFECTED SR-7 SPRING BRAKE MODULATING VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712, BENDIX AT 1-440-329-9000, OR CHAMPION AT 1-800-331-5761.

Reported: 2008-03-06 (March 6, 2008) · Model years: 2007, 2008

CHAMPION IS RECALLING 14 MY 2007-2008 M1235 AND RE CTS BUSES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS. THE FASTENERS THAT ATTACH THE STEERING ARM OR TIE ROD ARMS TO THE SPINDLE MAY BE OVER OR UNDER-TIGHTENED.

Consequence: INCORRECTLY TIGHTENED STEERING ARM FASTENERS MAY FATIGUE AND FRACTURE WHICH COULD CAUSE A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: CHAMPION BUS IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER TO REPAIR THESE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07V306). THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR CHAMPION AT 1-800-331-5761.

Reported: 2008-02-14 (February 14, 2008) · Model years: 2008

CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING 14 MY 2008 3035RE BUSES BUILT ON FREIGHTLINER CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH ZF MODEL 8018 STEERING GEARS. THESE GEARS MAY HAVE BEEN ASSEMBLED WITH THE INCORRECT RECIRCULATING BALL SPACER. THIS COULD POTENTIALLY ALLOW THE RECIRCULATION BALLS TO ESCAPE FROM THE RECIRCULATION BALL CIRCUIT RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING.

Consequence: THE OPERATOR MAY NOTICE HIGHER REQUIRED STEERING WHEEL INPUTS, OR THE NEED FOR MORE STEERING WHEEL ADJUSTMENTS WHILE DRIVING IN A STRAIGHT LINE IN COMBINATION WITH METALLIC CRACKING NOISES PRIOR TO A LOSS OF STEERING. LOSS OF STEERING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: CHAMPION BUS IS WORKING WITH FREIGHTLINER AND ZF TO REPLACE THE STEERING GEAR (PLEASE SEE 07V343 AND 07E049). OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR CHAMPION BUS AT 1-800-331-5761.

Reported: 2011-10-18 (October 18, 2011) · Model years: 2011

CHAMPION BUS (CHAMPION) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 CTS AND M1235 TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 9, 2011, THROUGH JUNE 29, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH A CUMMINS ISX OR ISL DIESEL ENGINE. THE V-BAND CLAMP ASSEMBLY, PART NUMBERS Q187684, Q187685, AND Q187686, USED TO CONNECT THE INLET AND OUTLET CONE SECTIONS TO THE DIESEL OXIDATION CATALYST (DOC)/DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER (DPF) INCLUDE A T-BOLT WHICH CAN FRACTURE AND FAIL WHEN SUBJECTED TO STRESS OR LOAD. A FRACTURE OR FAILURE OF THE T-BOLT MAY CAUSE THE CLAMP TO LOOSEN AND THE INLET OR OUTLET SECTIONS ATTACHED TO THE DOC/DPF HOUSING TO DISCONNECT.

Consequence: IF THE INLET OR OUTLET SECTIONS DISCONNECT, HOT EXHAUST GASES CAN VENT PRIOR TO EXITING THE TAILPIPE, CREATING THE RISK OF COMBUSTION AND A FIRE. IF BOTH CLAMPS FAIL, THERE IS A RISK IN SOME APPLICATIONS THAT THE DOC/DPF HOUSING MAY DETACH COMPLETELY, CREATING A ROAD HAZARD.

Remedy: CHAMPION IS WORKING WITH CUMMINS TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED CUMMINS DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 10, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-812-377-5000.

Reported: 2012-02-03 (February 3, 2012) · Model years: 2011, 2012

CHAMPION BUS (CHAMPION) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 ABC-M1235 TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 9, 2011, TO NOVEMBER 18, 2011, BUILT ON A FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS. THE GRID HEATER GROUND WIRE MAY CONTACT THE RELAY POWER TERMINAL AND RUB AND CHAFE, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL FAULT OR SHORT CIRCUIT COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY THE OWNERS, AND INSPECT THE BUSES AND CORRECTLY ROUTE THE GROUND WIRE AS NECESSARY THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY FREIGHTLINER AUTHORIZED FACILITIES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHAMPION AT 1-810-724-6474.

Reported: 2012-02-03 (February 3, 2012) · Model years: 2012

CHAMPION BUS (CHAMPION) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 ABC-M1235 TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 21, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 18, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH A FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS. INACURATE FAULT DETECTION VALUES IN THE BULKHEAD MOUDLE SOFTWARE MAY CAUSE THE SIDE MARKER/DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS TO STOP FUNCTIONING AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF VEHICLE OPERATION. LIGHTS WILL RESUME OPERATION AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED.

Consequence: FAILURE OF THE SIDE MARKER/DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE WILL RESULT IN DECREASED VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE AND/OR MISINFORM OTHER DRIVERS AS TO THE INTENDED DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, EITHER OF WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY THE OWNERS AND PERFORM REPAIRS AT ITS AUTHORIZED FACILITIES, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHAMPION AT 1-810-724-6474.

Reported: 2014-12-29 (December 29, 2014) · Model years: 2012, 2013, 2014

Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 American Crusader, Challenger, Crusader, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, Defender, EZ-Street, HC American, HCAC, LF Transport, M1235, Platinum Shuttle, Stacked Rail, and Federal Coach Premier, and Spirit transit buses manufactured January 1, 2012, to October 1, 2014, equipped with certain triangle warning signs manufactured by Imperial Supplies, LLC. Test reports indicate that the triangle warning signs, labeled C&J, may reflect an inadequate amount of light. As such, these triangle warning kits fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 125, "Warning devices."

Consequence: Warning triangles that do not properly reflect light may fail to warn others that a vehicle is parked, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Champion will notify owners to inspect their triangles for production dates between April 2011, to April 2014, and the affected triangles will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on January 6, 2015. Owners may contact Champion customer service at 1-810-724-6474.