Champion Crusader Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 22 safety recalls and 0 owner complaints across 21 model years of the Champion Crusader (1999–2019).

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All Champion Crusader recalls (22)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Champion Crusader, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

1. Escape/egress/exit (structure)

   NHTSA 19V554000 Reported July 25, 2019 362 vehicles potentially affected Champion Bus, Inc.

   Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain 2019 Challenger, Crusader, Defender and LF Transport and Goshen G-Force, Impulse and Pacer II shuttle buses equipped with Prolo roof emergency escape hatches. Due to a manufacturing issue, the roof hatch external handle may unexpectedly break under reasonable use.

   Remedy: Champion will notify owners, and dealers will replace the handle, free of charge. The recall began September 16, 2019. Owners may contact Champion customer service 1-810-724-1753, extension 415.

   Model years: 2019

2. Equipment adaptive/mobility

   NHTSA 18V573000 Reported August 30, 2018 219 vehicles potentially affected Champion Bus, Inc.

   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…

   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…

   Model years: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018

3. Seats

   NHTSA 16V010000 Reported January 13, 2016 8 vehicles potentially affected Champion Bus, Inc.

   Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2009-2015 Crusader, Stacked Rail, and CTS RE vehicles manufactured April 5, 2010, to October 14, 2015, equipped with Recaro Ergo-M Commercial Bus Driver Seats. The affected seats have J-Brackets that may be missing welds which could allow the seat belt anchorage assembly to…

   Remedy: Champion will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seats to determine if welds are missing. Any J-Bracket that is missing welds will be removed and replaced, free of charge. The recall began on February 25,…

   Model years: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

4. Equipment adaptive/mobility

   NHTSA 15V757000 Reported November 16, 2015 1,338 vehicles potentially affected Champion Bus, Inc.

   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,…

   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…

   Model years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

5. Webbing (seat belts)

   NHTSA 15V391000 Reported June 19, 2015 1,818 vehicles potentially affected Champion Bus, Inc.

   Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 American Crusader, American Coach, Challenger, Crusader, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, Defender, EZ Trans, HCAC, HC, DFUC, LF Transport, Premier, and Spirit transit buses manufactured March 1, 2013, to June 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the passenger seat belts may rub…

   Remedy: Champion will notify owners, and dealers will install a plastic sleeve over the metal seat frame, and replace any seat belts that show evidence of fraying, free of charge. The recall began on September 16, 2015. Owners…

   Model years: 2013, 2014, 2015

6. Equipment

   NHTSA 14V821000 Reported December 29, 2014 773 vehicles potentially affected Champion Bus, Inc.

   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…

   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…

   Model years: 2012, 2013, 2014

7. Seats

   NHTSA 14V748000 Reported November 24, 2014 168 vehicles potentially affected Champion Bus, Inc.

   Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 LF Transport, HCAC, Defender, Crusader, and Challenger transit buses manufactured September 2, 2014, to October 14, 2014. The spring nuts used to secure the passenger seats failed durability testing.

   Remedy: Champion will notify owners, and dealers will replace the defective seat nuts, free of charge. The recall began in December 2014. Owners may contact Champion at 1-810-724-6474.

   Model years: 2014, 2015

8. Equipment adaptive/mobility

   NHTSA 14V742000 Reported November 19, 2014 1,229 vehicles potentially affected Champion Bus, Inc.

   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,…

   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.…

   Model years: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

9. Electrical (equipment)

   NHTSA 13V422000 Reported September 12, 2013 598 vehicles potentially affected Champion Bus, Inc.

   Champion Bus is recalling certain model year 2010 American Crusader, American Coach, CTS-FE, CTS-RE, and IC Low Floor buses; and 2009-2010 Challenger and Crusader buses; and 2009-2011 Defender and EZ Trans buses; and 2010-2011 IC High Floor buses. The buses are manufactured from August 1, 2009, through May 19, 2011, and equipped with…

   Remedy: Champion Bus will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the door header and replace any defective circuit board, free of charge. The recall began on October 22, 2013. Owners may contact Champion at 1-810-724-6474.

   Model years: 2009, 2010

10. Equipment

    NHTSA 12V593000 Reported December 18, 2012 73 vehicles potentially affected Champion Bus, Inc.

    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…

    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.

    Model years: 2009, 2010, 2011

11. Equipment adaptive/mobility

    NHTSA 12V275000 Reported May 17, 2012 892 vehicles potentially affected CHAMPION BUS, INC.

    Champion bus is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 transit buses equipped with braun century-2 and/or vista-2 wheelchair lifts. Over time and with frequent use, the roll stop latches on the outer barrier may become bent or misaligned.

    Remedy: Champion bus will notify owners, and the repairs will be performed by authorized braun dealers free of charge. The safety recall began on august 17, 2012. Owners may contact champion bus at 1-810-724-6474.

    Model years: 2008, 2009, 2010

12. Air conditioner (equipment)

    NHTSA 11V141000 Reported March 1, 2011 974 vehicles potentially affected CHAMPION BUS, INC.

    Champion bus is recalling certain vehicles equipped with carrier genv em-1 evaporator units. Due to time, temperature, and/or vibration, the fuse may loosen in the fuse holder resulting in high resistance and arcing.

    Remedy: Champion bus will notify owners and provide information on how to obtain the retrofit kit from carrier along with repair instructions. This service will be performed free of charge. The safety recall began on march 8,…

    Model years: 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011

13. Equipment adaptive/mobility

    NHTSA 10V129000 Reported April 2, 2010 300 vehicles potentially affected CHAMPION BUS, INC.

    Champion bus has notified NHTSA of a defect in certain model year 2007-2010 buses fitted with ricon public use lifts. 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…

    Remedy: Champion bus 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…

    Model years: 2008, 2009

14. Equipment adaptive/mobility

    NHTSA 10V131000 Reported April 2, 2010 223 vehicles potentially affected CHAMPION BUS, INC.

    Champion bus has notified NHTSA about a defect in certain model year 2008-2010 buses manufactured between september 2007 and february 2010, equipped with certain ricon s series and k series l-model wheelchair lifts, due to a problem in the software that controls the lift's "up" function. If the "up" switch is released before the floor…

    Remedy: Champion bus will notify owners and the repairs will be performed by authorized ricon dealers please see ricon's defect report 09e-061. Ricon will provide owners with a bulletin outlining proper wheelchair lift…

    Model years: 2008, 2009, 2010

15. Air conditioner (equipment)

    NHTSA 09V426000 Reported October 29, 2009 6 vehicles potentially affected CHAMPION BUS, INC.

    Champion bus is recalling certain model year 2009 and 2010 transit buses equipped with carrier k410 rooftop condensers. Inadequate overcurrent protection of one or more of the fans in the k410 condenser may cause overheating of the fan's wires.

    Remedy: Champion bus will notify owners to contact an authorized carrier dealer to obtain the remedy free of charge. Please also see carrier's defect report 09e-055. The safety recall began on november 30, 2009. Owners may…

    Model years: 2009

16. Equipment adaptive/mobility

    NHTSA 08V490000 Reported September 25, 2008 503 vehicles potentially affected CHAMPION BUS, INC.

    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…

    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.

    Model years: 2005, 2006, 2007

17. Equipment adaptive/mobility

    NHTSA 08V225000 Reported May 19, 2008 31 vehicles potentially affected CHAMPION BUS, INC.

    Champion bus is recalling 31 my 2007-2008 defender, challenger and my 2008 crusader buses built on general motors 560 chassis and equipped with intermotive gateway 401 module interlock harness. These buses have been found to exhibit extreme voltage spikes during engine cranking. These extreme spikes can damage the diode in the harness…

    Remedy: Intermotive is handling the remedy for this campaign (please see 08e004). Intermotive will replace the defective harness free of charge. Owners may contact intermotive at 1-800-969-6080 or champion bus at 1-810-724-6474.

    Model years: 2008

18. Equipment adaptive/mobility

    NHTSA 08V182000 Reported April 24, 2008 503 vehicles potentially affected CHAMPION BUS, INC.

    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…

    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.

    Model years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

19. Equipment adaptive/mobility

    NHTSA 07V061000 Reported February 21, 2007 83 vehicles potentially affected CHAMPION BUS, INC.

    Certain buses equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, 'platform lift systems for motor vehicles.' the inner barrier interlock switch system in the lift baseplate may not detect the presence of a passenger (either wheelchair or standee) on…

    Remedy: Champion bus is working with ricon to repair these wheelchair lifts (please see 06e101). Owners can contact ricon at 1-800-322-2884 or champion bus at 1-800-331-5761.

    Model years: 2006

20. Equipment

    NHTSA 05V174000 Reported April 29, 2005 75 vehicles potentially affected CHAMPION BUS, INC.

    On certain diesel buses built on ford e-series chassis and equipped with carrier vacuum pump brackets, the brackets could break.

    Remedy: Carrier is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Owners may contact carrier service department at 1-800-450-2211.

    Model years: 2004, 2005

21. Equipment adaptive/mobility

    NHTSA 04V521000 Reported November 2, 2004 231 vehicles potentially affected CHAMPION BUS, INC.

    On certain buses equipped with sure-lok wheelchair securement systems, the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly is out of alignment.

    Remedy: Sure-lok is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Dealers will inspect and replace the wheelchair securement retractors as necessary. Owners should contact sure-lock at 1-908-231-1804 or…

    Model years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

22. Retractor (seat belts)

    NHTSA 02V160006 Reported October 29, 2002 599 vehicles potentially affected CHAMPION BUS, INC.

    On certain buses equipped with cp traveling retractor lap (type 1) seat belts, the plastic cover housing the reserve end of the seat belt web can break. If the two halves of the cover completely separate, the connector portion of the belt will detach from the cover. Once detached, the connector rivet can separate from the connector…

    Remedy: Amsafe will notify its customers and provide a plastic outer cover that snaps over the existing cover on units in the field and will replace broken seat belts free of charge. Owners who take their vehicles to an…

    Model years: 1999, 2000, 2001

Other Champion models

• Eurocoach4 complaints
• Challenger2 complaints
• Champion1 complaints
• Classic Sidecar1 complaints
• Contender1 complaints
• Cut-Away Chassis1 complaints
• Ez-Trans1 complaints
• International Low Floor1 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.