2006 Coach And Equipment PHOENIX: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2008-09-16 (September 16, 2008)

COACH AND EQUIPMENT IS RECALLING 594 MY 2005-2007 PHOENIX PARATRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.

Consequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: COACH AND EQUIPMENT IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR COACH AND EQUIPMENT AT 1-315-536-2321.

Reported: 2008-09-16 (September 16, 2008)

COACH AND EQUIPMENT IS RECALLING 335 MY 2005-2006 PHOENIX PARATRANSIT BUSES 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 SYSTEMS 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.

Consequence: A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: COACH AND EQUIPMENT IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-800-322-2884 OR COACH AND EQUIPMENT AT 1-315-536-2321.

Reported: 2010-06-15 (June 15, 2010)

COACH & EQUIPMENT IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2007 PHOENIX SHUTTLE BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 2005 THROUGH JUNE 2007 AND EQUIPPED WITH RICON S AND K SERIES PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE VERTICAL SUPPORT ARMS WERE IMPROPERLY WELDED.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION OCCURS DURING PASSENGER OPERATIONS IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE LIFT DOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE INTERLOCKS TO REMAIN ENGAGED PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE OR THE ABILITY TO LOAD OR UNLOAD PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES FROM THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: COACH & EQUIPMENT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED RICON DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JULY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-322-2884 OR COACH & EQUIPMENT AT 1-315-536-2321.

Reported: 2010-12-28 (December 28, 2010)

COACH AND EQUIPMENT IS RECALLING CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH TRANS AIR TA 73 EVAPORATORS. THE EVAPORATOR UTILIZES A POWER RESISTOR TO REGULATE BLOWER SPEED. SHOULD A SHORT OCCUR IN THE "LOW OR MEDIUM SPEED" CIRCUIT WHILE THE BLOWER IS IN HIGH SPEED, THE SHORT WILL CAUSE THE SUPPLY VOLTAGE TO FEEDBACK THROUGH THE RESISTOR TO GROUND, NOT DRAWING ENOUGH CURRENT TO TRIP THE FUSE.

Consequence: THIS WOULD CAUSE THE RESISTOR TEMPERATURE TO RISE TO A POINT WHERE IT WILL MELT AND POSSIBLY IGNITE THE PLASTIC BLOWER HOUSING TO WHICH IT IS MOUNTED. THE OVERHEATING CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: COACH AND EQUIPMENT IN COOPERATION WITH TRANS AIR WILL INSTALL A THERMAL SHUTDOWN DEVICE IN SERIES WITH THE SPEED RESISTORS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 29, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRANS AIR WARRANTY AND SERVICE CENTER AT 1-800-673-2446.

Reported: 2012-06-19 (June 19, 2012)

COACH AND EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURING CORPORATION (COACH AND EQUIPMENT) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 PHOENIX, METRO-LITE AND PEGASUS TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BRAUN CENTURY-2 AND/OR VISTA-2 WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. OVER TIME AND WITH FREQUENT USE, THE ROLL STOP LATCHES ON THE OUTER BARRIER MAY BECOME BENT OR MISALIGNED.

Consequence: A WHEELCHAIR OCCUPANT MAY DEFEAT OR RIDE OVER THE INSUFFICIENTLY LATCHED ROLL STOP. IF THIS OCCURS WHEN THE LIFT PLATFORM IS IN AN ELEVATED POSITION, THE WHEELCHAIR’S OCCUPANT COULD FALL AND SUSTAIN INJURY.

Remedy: COACH AND EQUIPMENT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED BRAUN DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT COACH AND EQUIPMENT MFG. CORP. AT 1-800-946-7513.

Reported: 2014-10-01 (October 1, 2014)

Coach and Equipment Mfg Corp. (Coach and Equipment) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Phoenix, Metro Lite, Pegasus, Condor LT, and Alley Cat transit buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to September 18, 2014, and equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

Consequence: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

Remedy: Coach and Equipment will notify owners to contact Ricon Corporation who will supply supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on October 27, 2014. Owners may contact Coach and Equipment customer service at 1-800-724-8464 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.

Reported: 2015-11-19 (November 19, 2015)

Coach & Equipment Mfg Corp. (Coach & Equipment) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Alley Cat, Condor LT, Metro Lite, Pegasus, and Phoenix transit buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to September 18, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts built by the Ricon Corporation. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Consequence: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

Remedy: Coach and Equipment will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact Coach & Equipment customer service at 1-800-724-8464, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. Coach & Equipment's number for this recall is 15E-068. Note: These buses and wheelchair lifts were subject to a similar recall in 2014. All vehicles that received that recall remedy are still affected by this recall as well.