RecallNotify
Sign up Check my VIN
Home/ Recalls/ Champion/ 10V129
Campaign 10V129 Posted April 2, 2010 300 units

2007-2010 Champion Bus Recall 10V129: Lift Belt Latch

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published June 3, 2026

Champion recall 10V129 covers 300 2007-2010 buses with Ricon lifts whose restraint belt can look latched. Ricon provides the free remedy.

Champion is recalling 300 2007-2010 buses, including Abc M-1235 and Challenger models, because the Ricon public-use lift restraint belt can look latched without being fully buckled. That fault lets the lift operate with an occupant on the platform and puts the lift user at risk of injury; Champion dealers will repair it free once available.

Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?

The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.

Check my VIN at NHTSA

RecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.

What's wrong?

The public-use lift on affected 2007-2010 Champion buses uses a restraint belt to hold the lift in a safe state before it moves. The belt tongue is supposed to click fully into the buckle, and that latch is supposed to prevent the lift from operating unless the belt is secured.

On these buses, the belt tongue can be inserted into the buckle without fully locking the latch. Because the belt appears latched, the operator can run the lift even though the restraint belt is not actually secured. That allows the lift to operate with a passenger on the platform while the restraint system is not doing its job.

There is no warning sign before failure. The visible problem is that the belt appears latched when it is not, so the operator has to confirm the tongue is fully engaged in the buckle before operating the lift.

Who's affected?

The scope spans Abc M-1235, Abc 3035RE, Challenger, Crusader, Cts Re, and Defender models across 2007-2010, all tied to adaptive/mobility equipment.

2010 Champion Abc M-1235 Equipment adaptive/mobility
2009 Champion Abc 3035RE Equipment adaptive/mobility
2008 Champion Abc 3035RE Equipment adaptive/mobility
2009 Champion Abc M-1235 Equipment adaptive/mobility
2009 Champion Challenger Equipment adaptive/mobility
Units affected300

The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.

What's the safety risk?

If the restraint belt is not buckled, the lift can move and injure the person using it. Use the lift only with the restraint belt properly buckled, and stop using it if the belt or instructions are unclear. Repair will be free at any franchised Champion dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2010 Champion Abc M-1235, Abc 3035RE, Challenger, Crusader, Cts Re, or Defender is included in this recall.
  2. Review any Champion or Ricon owner notice for the warning decal and DVD training aid tied to the lift restraint-belt latch defect.
  3. Call Ricon customer service at 800-322-2884 with questions, and reference recall number 10V129 when you call.
  4. Contact a franchised Champion dealer if you need help confirming the free recall remedy path for the bus.
  5. Inspect the lift restraint belt before each lift use and stop using the lift if the belt tongue is not fully engaged in the buckle.

What happens at the repair

The remedy named for this campaign is handled with Ricon. Champion is working with Ricon to provide owners with a warning decal and a DVD training aid for the public use lift restraint belt. This is not described as a parts replacement in the filing. Because this page does not show the campaign as open for dealer service, do not assume a service appointment is available from this page alone. Once the campaign remedy is open through Champion or Ricon, the recall work is free.

Timeline

April 2, 2010 NHTSA published the recall
May 4, 2010 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 10V129?

Recall 10V129 covers 300 2007-2010 Champion buses fitted with Ricon public-use lifts. The lift restraint belt can look latched without being fully engaged, and the lift can operate with an occupant on the platform. Ricon provides the recall remedy for Champion owners.

What should I do if my 2007-2010 Champion bus is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V129. If it is, contact a franchised Champion service location or Ricon customer service at 800-322-2884 and reference recall 10V129. The remedy includes a warning decal and DVD-based training aid.

Does the recall remedy cost anything?

No. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to provide the recall remedy at no cost. For recall 10V129, Ricon handles the remedy for Champion and provides customers with a warning decal and DVD-based training aid.

What is the safety risk?

The safety risk is injury to the lift user. If the restraint belt tongue is inserted without fully latching, the belt can appear secure while the lift still operates with an occupant on the platform. Reference NHTSA campaign 10V129 when discussing the recall with the service desk.

When did the recall remedy begin?

The safety recall began on May 5, 2010. Champion worked with Ricon for this campaign, and Ricon handles the remedy materials. If you own a used Champion bus, check your VIN because the free recall remedy follows the vehicle, not the first owner.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V129000
Champion customer service800-322-2884
NHTSA recall #10V129
NHTSA recall # (full)10V129000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →