NHTSA campaign 16V398000

Ameritrans Recall 16V-398: Wheel Chair Lift Platform Cracking/Big Pivot Holes

NHTSA recall 16V398000 was reported by Ameritrans Bus, Inc. on June 2, 2016, with 5 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Ameritrans 285 for model years 2015–2016. Owners were notified on June 30, 2016, per NHTSA.

Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files

Is my vehicle included?

This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 16V398000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.

To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.

Key facts

NHTSA campaign
16V398000 (also written 16V-398 or 16V398)
Filed by
Ameritrans Bus, Inc.
Report received
Potentially affected
5 vehicles (per NHTSA)
Component
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
Owners notified

Vehicles listed for this recall

NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 16V398000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.

Ameritrans

  • Ameritrans 285

    • 2015, 2016 · Vehicles built March 2, 2015 – December 23, 2015 (per NHTSA)
All Ameritrans recalls

NHTSA's recall notice

As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 16V398000.

Defect description

Ameritrans Bus, Inc. (Ameritrans) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 285 shuttle buses manufactured March 2, 2015, through December 23, 2015, built on Ford E-450 chassis and equipped with certain model S2000, S5000, and S5500, wheelchair lifts manufactured by the Ricon Corporation. 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.

Safety consequence

If the platform side plates crack or the platform mounting fails from out-of-position bearings, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the vehicle's doors are opened, the platform may fall onto the lift operator, increasing their risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Ameritrans will notify the purchasers of the lifts, and Ricon dealers will inspect the side plates for damage and for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 30, 2016. Owners may contact Ameritrans customer service at 1-574-262-8935, or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Sources

Official NHTSA notice for recall 16V398000

Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.