2014 Champion Bus Defender Recalls, Complaints & Specs
2 safety recalls list the 2014 Champion Bus Defender. Check your own VIN below.
2 safety recalls for the 2014 Champion Bus Defender
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Seat belts
Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2014 Defender shuttle buses built on Freightliner M2 chassis equipped with IMMI-brand L9 seat belt buckles. When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle, making the seat belt difficult to unlatch. Thus,…
Remedy: Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), manufacturer of the Freightliner chassis, has notified owners, and DTNA dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt buckle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May…
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Power train: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm)
Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2014 Defender shuttle buses built on Freightliner M2 chassis, equipped with Eaton-brand hybrid automated transmissions. The software controlling the affected transmissions may improperly raise the vehicle's engine speed during downshifts without the driver's input.
Remedy: Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), manufacturer of the Freightliner chassis, has notified owners, and Eaton authorized service facilities has updated the Hybrid Control Module Software version, free of charge. The…
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 2014 Champion Bus Defender. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.
Compare Champion Bus Defender model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Champion Bus Defender model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2009 Champion Bus Defender | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 Champion Bus Defender | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 Champion Bus Defender | 2 | 0 |
| 2012 Champion Bus Defender | 1 | 0 |
| 2013 Champion Bus Defender | 1 | 0 |
| 2014 Champion Bus Defender | 2 | 0 |
Checking a specific 2014 Champion Bus Defender
How do I know if my 2014 Champion Bus Defender has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 2 campaigns currently list the 2014 Champion Bus Defender; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Champion Bus dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 14V302000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
Other Champion Bus models
- Challenger2 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.