Ameritrans Bus, Inc. (Ameritrans) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Ford E Series shuttle buses built on E150, E250, E350, and E450, and Freightliner M2 Series shuttle buses manufactured August 1, 2012, to July 10, 2014, 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.
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.
Ameritrans will notify owners to take the shuttle 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 January 5, 2015. Owners may contact Ameritrans customer service at 1-574-262-8935 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.