TURTLE TOP IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 TRANSIT AND SHUTTLE BUSES 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 LIFT SWITCH IS RELEASED BEFORE THE FLOOR LEVEL LIMIT SWITCH IS ACTIVATED, THE LIFT MAY CONTINUE ITS UPWARD TRAVEL FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND BEFORE STOPPING, AND MAY TRAVEL PAST THE FLOOR LEVEL.
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
TURTLE TOP 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 BEGAN ON OCTOBER 8, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-800-322-2884, OR EMAILING AT WWW.DMATA@WABTEC.COM.
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV .