NHTSA vehicle safety data
2012 Champion Challenger Recalls & Complaints
The 2012 Champion Challenger has 5 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Champion dealer.
NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2012 Champion Challenger. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.
2012 Champion Challenger owner complaints
Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2012 Champion Challenger, describing incidents dated January 6, 2018.
Most-cited components
- Engine 1 complaint
Newest complaints
ODI #11100039 · Filed
I WAS DRIVING DOWN ON THE HIGHWAY AND FELT THE VEHICLE HESITATION. THE VEHICLE WON'T PASS INSPECTION DUE TO CYLINDER 5 MISFIRE. THERE IS A DELAY AND A JERK AT TIMES WHEN ACCELERATING. CYLINDER ISSUES COVER FOR THE LEFT SIDE OF ENGINE IS NOT COVERED FOR THE RIGHT SIDE OF ENGINE. THIS IS NOT RIGHT…
Wheelchair Lift may Raise too High
NHTSA #18V573000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · NHTSA notice
Reported August 30, 2018 · Champion Bus, Inc.
Potentially affected: 219 vehicles
Repair completion: 38.81% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)
Owners notified November 1, 2018 · Vehicles built January 1, 2012 – August 24, 2018 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
Champion Bus (Champion) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Champion American Coach, American Crusader, American S2, Challenger, Crusader, Defender, and Impulse vehicles, equipped with certain S-Series and K-Series Titanium Wheelchair Lifts, models K200, K201, K550, K551, S200, S2201, S550 and S551. The wheelchair lift positioning input cam may fail while the lift is in use, allowing the platform to travel higher than the vehicle's floor height.
Safety consequence
If the wheelchair lift platform stops above the vehicle floor, the wheelchair user can tip inwards toward the vehicle when exiting the lift, increasing their risk of injury.
Manufacturer remedy
Dealers will replace the injection molded cam with an aluminum machined cam, free of charge. The recall began November 1, 2018. Owners may contact Champion customer service 1-810-724-1753 extension 415 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884 or by emailing Ricon at [email protected].
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.
Wheel Chair Lift Link Arm Pivot Holes
NHTSA #15V757000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · NHTSA notice
Reported November 16, 2015 · Champion Bus, Inc.
Potentially affected: 1,338 vehicles
Champion campaign 15E-068 · Owners notified December 21, 2015 · Vehicles built January 1, 2006 – August 25, 2015 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
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 that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.
Safety 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.
Manufacturer 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. Owners may contact Champion customer service at 1-810-724-1753 extension 415, or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Champion's number for this recall is 15E-068. 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.
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.
Imperial Triangle Warning Signs/FMVSS 125
NHTSA #14V821000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice
Reported December 29, 2014 · Champion Bus, Inc.
Potentially affected: 773 vehicles
Owners notified January 6, 2015 · Vehicles built January 1, 2012 – October 1, 2014 (per NHTSA)
Defect description
Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 American Crusader, Challenger, Crusader, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, Defender, EZ-Street, HC American, HCAC, LF Transport, M1235, Platinum Shuttle, Stacked Rail, and Federal Coach Premier, and Spirit transit buses manufactured January 1, 2012, to October 1, 2014, equipped with certain triangle warning signs manufactured by Imperial Supplies, LLC. Test reports indicate that the triangle warning signs, labeled C&J, may reflect an inadequate amount of light. As such, these triangle warning kits fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 125, "Warning devices."
Safety consequence
Warning triangles that do not properly reflect light may fail to warn others that a vehicle is parked, increasing the risk of a crash.
Manufacturer remedy
Champion will notify owners to inspect their triangles for production dates between April 2011, to April 2014, and the affected triangles will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on January 6, 2015. Owners may contact Champion customer service at 1-810-724-6474.
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.
Wheelchair Lift - Platform Cracking
NHTSA #14V742000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · NHTSA notice
Reported November 19, 2014 · Champion Bus, Inc.
Potentially affected: 1,229 vehicles
Owners notified November 28, 2014 · Vehicles built January 1, 2006 – July 31, 2014 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
Defect description
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 of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.
Safety 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.
Manufacturer 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 2014. Owners may contact Champion Bus customer service at 1-810-724-6474. Owners may contact 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.
Wheelchair Lift Armored Cable Short Circuit
NHTSA #12V593000 · Equipment · NHTSA notice
Reported December 18, 2012 · Champion Bus, Inc.
Potentially affected: 73 vehicles
Owners notified January 23, 2013
Defect description
Champion Bus is recalling certain model year 2006, and certain model year 2008-2013 buses, models: American Crusader, Challenger, Crusader, and Defender; manufactured September 30, 2006, through November 16, 2012. The buses are equipped with a Ricon manufactured wheelchair lift which has 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.
Safety 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.
Manufacturer remedy
Champion Bus is working with Ricon to notify owners. Ricon will provide a supplemental cover kit with instructions, free of charge. Owners may contact Champion Bus at 1-819-724-6474 or Ricon at 1-818-267-3000.
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.
Other Champion Challenger model years
Check your 2012 Champion Challenger VIN
Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Champion Challenger at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.
Check a Champion VIN