Equipment adaptive/mobility
- Component
- Equipment adaptive/mobility
- Manufacturer
- DIAMOND COACH CORPORATION
- Vehicles affected
- 26
- Reported to NHTSA
- 2010-03-18
- Owners notified
- 2010-03-15
Defect description
DIAMOND COACH HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 VIP COACHES FITTED WITH RICON PUBLIC USE LIFTS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 1, 2007 TO DECEMBER 18, 2009. 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 INSERT THE BELT TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE WITHOUT FULLY ENGAGING THE LATCHING MECHANISM. IN THIS CASE, THE RESTRAINT BELT WOULD APPEAR TO BE LATCHED, AND THE OPERATOR COULD RUN THE LIFT. IF THE RESTRAINT BELT TONGUE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED INTO THE RESTRAINT BELT BUCKLE, AND LATCHED, THE LIFT MAY OPERATE WITH AN OCCUPANT ON THE PLATFORM.
Safety risk
THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE WITHOUT THE RESTRAINT BELT PROPERLY BUCKLED.
Manufacturer remedy
DIAMOND COACH 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 MARCH 15, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR DIAMOND COACH AT 1-800-442-4645.