2006 Eldorado AEROLITE: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2007-02-12 (February 12, 2007)

CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, 'PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.' THE INNER BARRIER INTERLOCK SWITCH SYSTEM IN THE LIFT BASEPLATE MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER (EITHER WHEELCHAIR OR STANDEE) ON THE BARRIER AND CAN ALLOW THE PLATFORM TO MOVE DOWN MORE THAN ONE INCH BELOW FLOOR LEVEL WHEN OCCUPIED.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION OCCURS DURING PASSENGER OPERATIONS, IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR THE WHEELCHAIR TO TIP BACKWARDS ONTO THE PLATFORM IF THE USER IS BACKING ONTO THE LIFT FROM INSIDE THE VEHICLE AND HAS THE SMALL FRONT WHEELS FULLY OR PARTIALLY ON THE INNER BARRIER WHEN THE PLATFORM WAS LOWERED. A PERSON STANDING COULD LOSE HIS OR HER BALANCE IF THEY WERE POSITIONED FULLY OR PARTLY ON THE INNER BARRIER WHEN THE PLATFORM WAS LOWERED. EITHER CONDITION COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: ELDORADO NATIONAL IS WORKING WITH RICON TO REPAIR THESE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS (PLEASE SEE 06E101). OWNERS CAN CONTACT RICON AT 1-800-322-2884 OR ELDORADO NATIONAL AT 1-785-827-1033, EXT. 412.

Reported: 2008-03-07 (March 7, 2008)

ELDORADO IS RECALLING 210 MY 2006-2007 AERO ELITE, AEROTECH, AEROLITE AND TRANSTECH BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BRAUN PLATFORM LIFTS FOR FAILING TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, 'PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES.' THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEMS OF THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS DO NOT CONFORM TO THE THRESHOLD WARNING SIGNAL.

Consequence: SHOULD THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM FAIL TO OPERATE, THE LIFT USER CAN FALL FROM THE VEHICLE AND BE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

Remedy: BRAUN WILL CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT FREE OF CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED AN OWNER NOTIFICATION SCHEDULE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ELDORADO AT 1-937-596-6849 OR BRAUN CORPORATION AT 1-800-946-7513.

Reported: 2008-07-08 (July 8, 2008)

ELDORADO NATIONAL - KANSAS (ENK) IS RECALLING 1,258 MY 2005-2008 AERO ELITTE AEROLITE, AEROTECH, VERSA SHUTTLE, AND MY 2006-2008 TRANSTECH BUSES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE BUSES FAIL 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: ENK 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 ENK AT 1-800-850-1287.

Reported: 2008-11-24 (November 24, 2008)

ELDORADO NATIONAL (ENK) IS RECALLING 850 MY 2005-2008 AERO ELITE, AEROLITE, AEROTECH, AND MY 2006-2008 TRANSTECH 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: ENK IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR ENK AT 1-800-850-1287.

Reported: 2009-10-22 (October 22, 2009)

ELDORADO NATIONAL IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002-2009 TRANSIT BUSES, EQUIPPED WITH LUMINATOR HORIZON LED SIDE DESTINATION SIGNS. THE CONNECTOR BOARD CAN CORRODE DUE TO AN ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE UNDER THE CONNECTOR.

Consequence: A SHORT COULD OCCUR, POSSIBLY CAUSING SMOKE AND FIRE.

Remedy: ELDORADO NATIONAL WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND LUMINATOR WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE LUMINATOR'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-054. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING NOVEMBER 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LUMINATOR AT 1-972-516-3033 OR ELDORADO NATIONAL WARRANTY DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-955-9086.

Reported: 2010-02-03 (February 3, 2010)

ELDORADO NATIONAL IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2008 AEROTECH, AEROLITE, AERO ELITE, AND TRANS TECH BUSES EQUIPPED WITH GROTE INDUSTRIES LED LAMP MARKERS. MOISTURE CAN ENTER THE LAMP HOUSING WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE FAILURE OF THE LAMPS, INCLUDING OVERHEATING, MELTING, AND, POTENTIALLY, A FIRE.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE, THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LED MARKER FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ELDORADO NATIONAL AT 1-800-955-9086.

Reported: 2014-09-30 (September 30, 2014)

Eldorado National-Kansas (Eldorado) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 Aerotech, Aerolite, Aero Elite, Transtech, and Advantage coaches manufactured January 1, 2006, to September 26, 2014, and built on Ford E-350, E-450 and E-550 chassis, and Chevrolet 3500 and 4500 chassis, 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: Eldorado will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on October 20, 2014. Owners may contact Eldorado customer service at 1-800-955-9086 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.

Reported: 2015-11-12 (November 12, 2015)

Eldorado National- Kansas (Eldorado) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Aerotech, AeroElite, Aerolite, Advantage, Transtech, and Krystal shuttle buses and model year 2006-2014 VersaShuttle shuttle buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to August 25, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured 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: Eldorado will notify owners, and Ricon 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 15, 2015. Owners may contact Eldorado customer service at 1-785-827-1033, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. 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.