2008 Eldorado VERSA SHUTTLE: complaints, problems and recalls

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: 2009-01-15 (January 15, 2009)

ELDORADO NATIONAL - KANSAS (ENK) IS RECALLING 730 MY 2008-2009 AERO ELITE, AEROLITE, AEROTECH, TRANSTECH, AND VERSA SHUTTLE BUSES. SOME BUSES WERE BUILT WITH DRIVELINE FASTENERS THAT MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY TORQUED DURING ASSEMBLY.

Consequence: IF NOT TIGHTENED PROPERLY, THE FASTENERS COULD COME LOOSE AND CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, POSSIBLY CAUSING A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUSES AND IF THE TORQUE VALUES FOR THE DRIVELINE FASTENERS ARE FOUND TO BE OUT OF TOLERANCE, THE FASTENERS WILL BE ADJUSTED TO BRING THEIR TORQUE VALUE INTO THE RECOMMENDED TOLERANCE RANGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 26, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT ENK AT 1-800-850-1287.

Reported: 2010-07-27 (July 27, 2010)

ELDORADO NATIONAL IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 AERO ELITE, AEROLITE, AEROTECH, TRANSTECH, AND VERSA SHUTTLE MOTORHOMES 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 MOTORHOMES, HOWEVER, THE INTERLOCK FEATURE MAY NOT OPERATE PROPERLY AND THE LIFT MAY OPERATE EVEN WHEN THE BUCKLE IS NOT LATCHED.

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

Remedy: ELDORADO NATIONAL 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 IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 800-322-2884, OR EMAIL AT WWW.DMATA@WABTEC.COM.

Reported: 2010-07-27 (July 27, 2010)

ELDORADO NATIONAL IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 AERO ELITE, AEROLITE, AEROTECH, TRANSTECH, AND VERSA SHUTTLE MOTORHOMES 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 SWITCH IS RELEASED BEFORE THE FLOOR LEVEL LIMIT SWITCH IS ACTIVATED, THE LIFT MAY CONTINUE ITS UPWARD TRAVEL FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND BEFORE STOPPING. THE CONTINUED UPWARD TRAVEL MAY OVERRUN THE FLOOR LEVEL CUT OFF POINT.

Consequence: 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.

Remedy: ELDORADO NATIONAL 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 IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-322-2884, OR EMAILING AT WWW.DMATA@WABTEC.COM.

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.