How many recalls does the 2005 Champion Defender have?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2005 Champion Defender as of October 16, 2026. Each includes the defect description, safety consequence, and the remedy Champion will perform. New recalls can be issued at any time; this page is refreshed from NHTSA daily.

How do I tell if my 2005 Champion Defender is affected by a recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN — stamped at the base of the windshield on the driver side and on the door jamb sticker — at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's VIN lookup shows whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall; the list on this page covers every campaign for the 2005 Champion Defender.

Are recall repairs on a 2005 Champion Defender free?

Usually. Federal law requires Champion to remedy recalls on the 2005 Defender free of charge at an authorized Champion dealer, regardless of how many owners the vehicle has had or how many miles are on the odometer — unless it was first sold more than 15 years before the recall was issued (5 years for tires).

Does a recall on the 2005 Champion Defender affect resale value?

An open recall can reduce resale value; a recall that has been repaired (documented in the vehicle history report) generally does not. Before you buy or sell a used 2005 Champion Defender, check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm every recall has been remedied.

How many owner complaints are on file for the 2005 Champion Defender?

No owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA on the 2005 Champion Defender.

NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Champion Defender Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2005 Champion Defender has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 0 owner complaints on file as of October 16, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Champion dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Champion Defender. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

NHTSA #09V313000

Reported July 30, 2009 · CHAMPION BUS, INC.

Potentially affected: 36 vehicles

Defect description

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.

Safety 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.

Manufacturer 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 TRUCKS AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

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 <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

NHTSA #08V490000

Reported September 25, 2008 · CHAMPION BUS, INC.

Potentially affected: 503 vehicles

Defect description

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 DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT.

Safety consequence

A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

CUSTOMERS 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.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

NHTSA #08V182000

Reported April 24, 2008 · CHAMPION BUS, INC.

Potentially affected: 503 vehicles

Defect description

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 A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.

Safety consequence

THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

CUSTOMERS 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.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

NHTSA #06V127000

Reported April 24, 2006 · CHAMPION BUS, INC.

Potentially affected: 7 vehicles

Defect description

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH RICON S AND K SERIES PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS, THE VERTICAL SUPPORT ARMS FOR THE LIFTS WERE IMPROPERLY WELDED ALLOWING THE LIFT TO STOW IMPROPERLY.

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION OCCURS DURING PASSENGER OPERATIONS IT MAY NOT BE POSSIBLE TO CLOSE THE LIFT DOOR CAUSING THE VEHICLE INTERLOCKS TO REMAIN ENGAGED PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF THE VEHICLE OR THE ABILITY TO LOAD OR UNLOAD PASSENGERS WITH DISABILITIES FROM THE VEHICLE.

Manufacturer remedy

CHAMPION IS WORKING WITH RICON TO REMEDY THESE BUSES. THE TWO LIFT ARMS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR CHAMPION AT 1-810-724-6474.

Notes

CUSTOMERS MAY 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.

Other Champion Defender model years

Check your 2005 Champion Defender VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Champion Defender at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Champion VIN