2006 Eldorado MST: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2007-12-21 (December 21, 2007)

CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BRAUN PLATFORM LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." A PASSENGER CAN APPROACH THE EXPOSED LIFT DOORWAY WITHOUT THE AUDIBLE ALARM ALERTING THEM OF THEIR PROXIMITY TO THE THRESHOLD.

Consequence: SHOULD THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM FAIL TO OPERATE, THE LIFT USER CAN FALL FROM THE VEHICLE AND BE SERIOUSLY INJURED.

Remedy: ELDORADO IS WORKING WITH BRAUN CORPORATION TO HAVE THE DOORWAY LIFT FIXED (PLEASE SEE 06E094). OWNERS MAY CONTACT ELDORADO AT 1-909-591-9557 OR BRAUN CORPORATION AT 1-800-946-7513.

Reported: 2008-01-29 (January 29, 2008)

CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS 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.

Consequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: RICON IS HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN (PLEASE SEE 07E095). RICON WILL CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 818-267-3000 OR ELDORADO NATIONAL CALIFORNIA AT 1-937-596-6849.

Reported: 2008-01-29 (January 29, 2008)

ELDORADO NATIONAL - CALIFORNIA (ENC) IS RECALLING 21 MY 2005-2007 MST, MST II AND TRANSMARK BUSES EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2005 TO JUNE 2007. THE LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, "PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEM ACCESSIBLE FOR MOTOR VEHICLES." THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT.

Consequence: A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: ENC IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT (PLEASE SEE 07E097). OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-800-322-2884OR ENC AT 1-937-596-6849.

Reported: 2014-09-30 (September 30, 2014)

Eldorado National-California, Inc. (Eldorado National) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 MST, and Transmark transit buses manufactured January 1, 2006, to December 30, 2007, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

Consequence: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

Remedy: Eldorado National 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. The recall began on October 9, 2014. Owners may contact Eldorado National customer service at 1-909-591-9557 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.

Reported: 2015-10-29 (October 29, 2015)

Eldorado National-California, Inc. (Eldorado National) is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 MST and Transmark vehicles manufactured January 1, 2006, to December 30, 2007, and equipped with certain Ricon model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, S5510 wheelchair lifts. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Consequence: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

Remedy: Eldorado National-California will notify owners, and Ricon dealers 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 December 2, 2015. Owners may contact Eldorado National customer service at 1-909-591-9557 or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. Note: These buses and wheelchair lifts were subject to a similar recall in 2014. All vehicles that received that recall remedy are still affected by this recall as well.