Unknown or other
- Component
- Unknown or other
- Manufacturer
- CHANCE COACH, INC.
- Vehicles affected
- 222
- Reported to NHTSA
- 1993-12-08
- Owners notified
- 1994-01-12
Defect description
THE VEHICLE OPERATORS ARE NOT AWARE THAT THE WHEELCHAIR HYDRAULIC SYSTEM NEEDS TO BE CYCLED ON A DAILY BASIS TO INSURE THAT THE PRESSURE REQUIRED TO HOLD IT IN THE STOWED POSITION HAS NOT BLED OFF. IF THE HYDRAULIC PRESSURE IS NOT SUFFICIENT TO HOLD THE PLATFORM IN THE STOWED POSITION AND THE VEHICLE MAKES A LEFT TURN, THE LIFT CAN MOVE. THE MOVEMENT CAUSES THE BRAKE INTERLOCK TO ACTIVATE, ABRUPTLY STOPPING THE VEHICLE.
Safety risk
IF THE ABRUPT STOP HAPPENS WHILE THE VEHICLE IS INTRAFFIC, AN ACCIDENT INVOLVING FOLLOWING VEHICLES CAN OCCUR. ALSO, PASSENGERSIN THE VEHICLE CAN BE INJURED.
Manufacturer remedy
A DECAL INSTRUCTING THE OPERATORS OF THE VEHICLE TO CYCLE THE HYDRAULIC LIFT SYSTEM DAILY WILL BE SENT TO THE OWNERS FOR INSTALLATION ON THE ENGINE COVER.