NHTSA Recall 09V096000
Filed by Ford Motor Company. Component: Equipment Adaptive/Mobility. Reported 2009-03-24. An estimated 513 vehicles are affected. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer.
Defect
NEW ENGLAND WHEELS, INC. IS RECALLING 513 RICON WHEELCHAIR LIFTS WHICH IT INSTALLED ON MY 2005 THROUGH 2007 FORD E-SERIES COMMERCIAL VANS. THESE VEHICLES 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.
Risk
A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.
What the manufacturer will do
NEW ENGLAND WHEELS 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 NEW ENGLAND WHEELS AT 1-800-886-9247.
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> .