2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
0
Owner Complaints
10
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER
The 2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER has received a total of 0 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 10 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY, EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER.
Recalls for the 2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER
NHTSA has recorded 10 recalls for the 2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER, potentially affecting up to 4,268 vehicles.
Recall 15V757000 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
| 1,338 vehicles affected
Defect: Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Challenger, Defender, Crusader, American, American Coach, American Crusader, Corporal, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, HC American, Platinum Shuttle, and Stacked Rail transit buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to August 25, 2015, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms...
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: Champion 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 21, 2015....
View full details →Recall 14V742000 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
| 1,229 vehicles affected
Defect: Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion Bus) is recalling certain model year 2006-2014 American Coach, American Crusader, Challenger, Corporal, Crusader, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, Defender, HCAC, HC American, Platinum Shuttle, and Stacked Rail transit buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to July 31, 2014, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate...
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: Champion Bus 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 in November...
View full details →Recall 10V127000 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
| 191 vehicles affected
Defect: CHAMPION BUS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006-2010 BUSES EQUIPPED WITH TRANS/AIR AIR CONDITIONING SYSTEMS INSTALLED BETWEEN MAY 2006 AND JUNE 2009. EACH TRANS/AIR SYSTEM COMES WITH AN ELECTRICAL KIT WHICH CONTAINS A RELAY BOARD AND EC PC BOARD WHICH IF IMPROPERLY INSTALLED COULD OVERHEAT.
Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE IN THE RELAY BOARD, CAN CAUSE OVERHEATING AND POSE A SERIOUS FIRE HAZARD.
Remedy: TRANS AIR WILL NOTIFY THE OWNERS AND THE BUSES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE ALSO SEE TRANS/AIR DEFECT REPORT 09E-042. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 19, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT TRANS/AIR WARRANTY AND SERVICE DEPARTMENT AT 1-800-673-...
View full details →Recall 10V129000 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
| 300 vehicles affected
Defect: CHAMPION BUS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA OF A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 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...
Consequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE WITHOUT THE RESTRAINT BELT PROPERLY BUCKLED.
Remedy: CHAMPION BUS 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 BEGAN ON...
View full details →Recall 09V369000 — INTERIOR LIGHTING
| 69 vehicles affected
Defect: CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2010 TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 2003 AND AUGUST 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: CHAMPION BUS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND LUMINATOR WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE LUMINATOR'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-054. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON DECEMBER 11, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LUMINATOR AT 1-972-516-3033 OR CHAMPION BUS AT 1-800-331-5761.
View full details →Recall 09V313000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
| 36 vehicles affected
Defect: CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING 36 MODEL YEAR 2004, 2005, AND 2007 DEFENDER AND MODEL YEAR 2005-2006 M1000 BUSES BUILT BETWEEN APRIL 12, 2004 AND SEPTEMBER 18, 2006. CERTAIN HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES MAY CONTACT THE TRANSMISSION DIPSTICK TUBE AS THE ENGINE ROCKS.
Consequence: CONTINUED CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE LINE AND THE DIPSTICK TUBE COULD CAUSE A BRAKE FLUID LEAK AND REDUCE BRAKE PERFORMANCE, POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS HANDLING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE 09V-114. DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL CORRECT THE CHASSIS IF FOUND TO BE DEFECTIVE. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FOR YOU FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER...
View full details →Recall 08V490000 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
| 503 vehicles affected
Defect: CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING 503 MY 2005-2007 CHALLENGER, CRUSADER, DEFENDER, MY 2005-2006 CORPORAL, MY 2006 CTS-RE, AND MY 2007 CTS-FE AND IC DEFENDER TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH A RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFT. THIS LIFT FAILS 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...
Consequence: A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.
Remedy: CHAMPION BUS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR CHAMPION BUS AT 1-800-331-5761.
View full details →Recall 08V326000 — EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER
| 68 vehicles affected
Defect: CHAMPION IS RECALLING 68 MY 2007-2009 TRANSIT BUSES. THE FASTENERS THAT ARE USED TO HOLD ELECTRICAL CONNECTORS IN PLACE ON THE ROOF MOUNTED AIR CONDITIONER CONTROL PANEL MAY NOT BE TIGHTENED DOWN TO THE PROPER TORQUE AND/OR THERE MAY BE A POSSIBLE FRAYED WIRE AT THE CONNECTION POINT.
Consequence: IF THESE CONNECTIONS ARE LOOSE, IT COULD RESULT IN OVERHEATING AND CAUSE A FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FASTENERS ON THE ELECTRICAL CONTROL BOARD AND TIGHTEN THEM TO THE PROPER TORQUE VALUE IF THEY ARE FOUND TO BE LOOSE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHAMPION BUS AT 1-810-724-1735.
View full details →Recall 08V182000 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
| 503 vehicles affected
Defect: CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING 503 MY 2005-2008 DEFENDER, CHALLENGER, CTS-RE, CTS-FE AND CRUSADER 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...
Consequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.
Remedy: CHAMPION BUS 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 CHAMPION BUS AT 1-937-596-6849.
View full details →Recall 08V225000 — EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
| 31 vehicles affected
Defect: CHAMPION BUS IS RECALLING 31 MY 2007-2008 DEFENDER, CHALLENGER AND MY 2008 CRUSADER BUSES BUILT ON GENERAL MOTORS 560 CHASSIS AND EQUIPPED WITH INTERMOTIVE GATEWAY 401 MODULE INTERLOCK HARNESS. THESE BUSES HAVE BEEN FOUND TO EXHIBIT EXTREME VOLTAGE SPIKES DURING ENGINE CRANKING. THESE EXTREME SPIKES CAN DAMAGE THE DIODE IN THE HARNESS NEAR THE SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID CONNECTOR. IF THE...
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, THE SHIFT LOCK SOLENOID MAY NOT ENGAGE. IF THIS LOCK DOES NOT ENGAGE, THE VEHICLE WILL HAVE THE ABILITY TO MOVE WHILE THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT IS DEPLOYED WHICH MAY RESULT IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: INTERMOTIVE IS HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 08E004). INTERMOTIVE WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE HARNESS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT INTERMOTIVE AT 1-800-969-6080 OR CHAMPION BUS AT 1-810-724-6474.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER
No complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER.
Safety Rating for the 2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the CHAMPION DEFENDER
- 2002 CHAMPION DEFENDER — 0 complaints
- 2003 CHAMPION DEFENDER — 0 complaints
- 2004 CHAMPION DEFENDER — 0 complaints
- 2005 CHAMPION DEFENDER — 0 complaints
- 2006 CHAMPION DEFENDER — 0 complaints
- 2007 CHAMPION DEFENDER (current)
- 2008 CHAMPION DEFENDER — 0 complaints
- 2009 CHAMPION DEFENDER — 0 complaints
- 2010 CHAMPION DEFENDER — 0 complaints
- 2011 CHAMPION DEFENDER — 0 complaints
- 2012 CHAMPION DEFENDER — 0 complaints
Other CHAMPION Models
- CHAMPION EUROCOACH — 6 total complaints
- CHAMPION CHALLENGER — 3 total complaints
- CHAMPION CHAMPION — 1 total complaint
- CHAMPION CLASSIC SIDECAR — 1 total complaint
- CHAMPION CONTENDER — 1 total complaint
- CHAMPION CUT-AWAY CHASSIS — 1 total complaint
- CHAMPION EZ-TRANS — 1 total complaint
- CHAMPION INTERNATIONAL LOW FLOOR — 1 total complaint