2009 Goshen PACER LTD: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2010-03-24 (March 24, 2010)

GOSHEN COACH HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 PACER LS, PACER LTD, PACER II, GCII, AND SENTINEL BUSES FITTED WITH RICON PUBLIC USE LIFTS. THE RESTRAINT BELT ON THESE LIFTS WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LIFT FROM MOVING, UNLESS THE TONGUE OF THE BELT IS FULLY ENGAGED AND LATCHED IN THE BUCKLE. RICON HAS DISCOVERED, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE OPERATOR TO INSERT THE BELT TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE WITHOUT FULLY ENGAGING THE LATCHING MECHANISM. IN THIS CASE, THE RESTRAINT BELT WOULD APPEAR TO BE LATCHED, AND THE OPERATOR COULD RUN THE LIFT. IF THE RESTRAINT BELT TONGUE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED INTO THE RESTRAINT BELT BUCKLE, AND LATCHED, THE LIFT MAY OPERATE WITH AN OCCUPANT ON THE PLATFORM.

Consequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE WITHOUT THE RESTRAINT BELT PROPERLY BUCKLED.

Remedy: GOSHEN COACH 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 RECALL BEGAN APRIL 9, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON CUSTOMER SERVICE AT1-800-322-2884 OR BY EMAIL AT WWW.DMATA@WABTEC.COM.

Reported: 2010-03-25 (March 25, 2010)

GOSHEN COACH HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008-2010 BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 2007 AND FEBRUARY 2010, EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN RICON S SERIES AND K SERIES L-MODEL WHEELCHAIR LIFTS, DUE TO A PROBLEM IN THE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLS THE LIFT'S "UP" FUNCTION. IF THE "UP" 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: GOSHEN COACH WILL NOTIFY OWNERS 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 BEGAN ON APRIL 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-322-2884, EMAILING AT WWW.DMATA@WABTEC.COM.

Reported: 2012-05-03 (May 3, 2012)

GOSHEN IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2011 TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BRAUN CENTURY-2 AND 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: GOSHEN WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED BRAUN DEALERS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN DURING MAY 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT GOSHEN AT 1-574-970-6300.

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

Goshen Coach (Goshen) is recalling certain modle year 2006-2015 Pacer, Pacer LS, Pacer LTD, GCII, Impulse, Connection, Commander, G-Force, G-Force Access, G-Force LTD, Sentinel, Sentinel UC, and Mainstream Low Floor buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to October 19, 2015, and equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon. 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: Goshen will notify owners, and 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 November 23, 2015. Owners may contact Goshen customer service at 1-574-970-6300, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. Note: These vehicles 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.