2008 Startrans PRESIDENT: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2009-10-19 (October 19, 2009)

STARTRANS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2001 THROUGH 2009 TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN OCTOBER 15, 2001 AND SEPTEMBER 24, 2009, 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: STARTRANS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE BUSES WILL BE REPAIRED BY EITHER STARTRANS OR LUMINATOR 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 STARTRANS AT 1-574-642-0811.

Reported: 2010-05-10 (May 10, 2010)

STARTRANS BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2010 CANDIDATE, CANDIDATE II, SENATOR, SENATOR HD, PRESIDENT, TROLLEY, SENATOR II, AND SENTINAL TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 2007 THROUGH DECEMBER 18, 2009 AND 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: STARTRANS BUS IS WORKING WITH RICON AND RICON WILL BE PERFORMING 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 BEGAN ON JULY 12, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR STARTRANS BUS AT 1-574-642-0811.

Reported: 2011-04-11 (April 11, 2011)

STARTRANS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CARRIER GENV EM-1 EVAPORATOR UNITS. DUE TO TIME, TEMPERATURE, AND/OR VIBRATION, THE FUSE MAY LOOSEN IN THE FUSE HOLDER RESULTING IN HIGH RESISTANCE AND ARCING.

Consequence: IF SUFFICIENT ARCING OCCURS, THE FUSE HOLDER MAY MELT, AND A VEHICLE FIRE MAY OCCUR.

Remedy: STARTRANS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE INFORMATION ON HOW TO OBTAIN THE RETROFIT KIT FROM CARRIER ALONG WITH REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 18, 2011. (SEE CARRIER'S RECALL CAMPAIGN 11E-003.) OWNERS MAY CONTACT CARRIER AT 1-800-793-4741 OR STARTRANS AT 1- 877-258-1391.

Reported: 2013-02-28 (February 28, 2013)

Supreme Corporation (Supreme) is recalling certain model year 2006-2012 Startrans Trolley, Sentinel, Senator HD, Senator, Candidate, C2, S2, PS2, and President transit buses equipped with Ricon manufactured wheelchair lifts which have an optional armored pendant cable. The cable may have been installed such that it doesn't clear the wheelchair lift and without a protective cover, or a misinstalled protective cover.

Consequence: The cable may contact the power lug at the base of the wheel chair lift causing a short circuit that could result in a fire.

Remedy: Ricon will be conducting this recall on behalf of Supreme. Ricon will notify the affected owners and will provide a supplemental cover kit and instructions, free of charge. The recall began on March 8, 2013. Owners may contact Supreme at 1-800-642-4889 or Ricon at 1-818-267-3000.

Reported: 2016-01-15 (January 15, 2016)

Supreme Corporation (Supreme) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 Azure Hybrid, Candidate, Senator, Senator HD, Senator II, President, President S2, Sentinel, and Trolley shuttle buses manufactured May 9, 2008, to August 9, 2014, 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: Supreme 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 March 14, 2016, 2016. Owners may contact Supreme customer service at 1-800-642-4889, 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.

Reported: 2016-05-26 (May 26, 2016)

Supreme Corporation (Supreme) is recalling certain model year 2008-2014 Startrans Activity Bus, Azure Hybrid, Candidate, Senator, Senator HD, Senator II, President, President S2, Sentinel Van, and Trolley shuttle buses manufactured May 9, 2008, to August 9, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts by Ricon. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack. Additionally, the 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: Supreme will notify owners and advise them to contact Ricon, 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 June 29, 2016. Owners may contact Supreme customer service at 1-800-642-4889 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.