Recall 10V173 affects 17 2008-2009 Sprinter Bus 3500 buses for wheelchair-lift software overrun. Repair will be free at any franchised Sprinter Bus dealer once available.
Sprinter Bus is recalling 17 2008-2009 3500 transit buses fitted with certain Ricon wheelchair lifts because a software problem can let the platform keep rising past the vehicle floor level. If the platform stops at an angle, a wheelchair user can tip over or a person standing on the lift can fall, and the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The wheelchair lift on 2008-2009 Sprinter Bus 3500 transit buses is the platform that raises a wheelchair user from curb height to the bus floor. On these buses, certain Ricon S Series and K Series L-Model lifts use software to control the "up" command. A floor level limit switch tells the lift when it has reached the vehicle floor so upward travel stops at the correct point.
The defect is in that lift-control software. If the operator releases the "up" button before the floor level limit switch is activated, the lift can keep moving upward instead of stopping with the button release. That continued travel can carry the platform past the floor level cut off point.
There is no warning sign before failure. The condition is tied to how the lift responds during operation, so the visible issue is the platform continuing upward after the control button is released.
Who's affected?
Covers the same adaptive or mobility equipment concern across the 2008 and 2009 model years.
| 2009 Sprinter Bus 3500 | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2008 Sprinter Bus 3500 | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 17 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
If the wheelchair lift platform overruns the vehicle floor level and stops at an angle, a person in a wheelchair can tip over and someone standing on the platform can fall, increasing injury risk. Use the lift only as instructed, and stop using the lift if it does not level correctly. Repair will be free at any franchised Sprinter Bus dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2008-2009 Sprinter Bus 3500 is included in this recall.
- Review the owner notice mailed on August 6, 2010, then contact Ricon at 1-818-267-3000 for the wheelchair-lift operation bulletin and DVD training aid.
- Use the Ricon operating instructions before running the lift so the platform does not overrun the vehicle floor level.
- Reference recall number 10V173 when calling Ricon or a franchised Sprinter Bus service location.
- Keep wheelchair passengers and anyone standing on the lift clear of the platform unless the operator has reviewed the recall instructions.
What happens at the repair
Ricon is handling the remedy for this Sprinter Bus recall. The final software fix was still under investigation in the source remedy, so the dealer repair should not be treated as a scheduled software update from this record alone. Until that software solution is available, Ricon provides owners with a bulletin on proper wheelchair lift operation and a DVD training aid at no cost. Once the final remedy opens, the recall repair will be free.
Timeline
| April 27, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 6, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V173?
Recall 10V173 covers 17 2008-2009 Sprinter Bus 3500 transit buses with certain Ricon S Series and K Series L-Model wheelchair lifts. A software problem in the lift's up function can let the platform travel past floor level, creating a fall or tip-over risk.
What should I do if my 2008-2009 Sprinter Bus 3500 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V173. If it is, contact a franchised Sprinter Bus service location and reference recall number 10V173. Ricon is handling the campaign remedy and can be reached at 1-818-267-3000.
Does the recall remedy cost anything?
No. The recall remedy is free. Ricon provides the owner bulletin and DVD-based wheelchair-lift training aid at no cost while the software solution is handled for this safety defect, and federal recall law requires the safety recall remedy to be completed without charge.
What is the safety risk with recall 10V173?
The risk is a wheelchair lift platform traveling past the vehicle floor level and stopping at a 15-20 degree angle. A person in a wheelchair can tip over, and a person standing on the platform can fall. Reference recall 10V173 when arranging service.
When did the recall remedy begin?
The safety recall began on August 6, 2010. Ricon was assigned to perform the campaign remedy for affected Sprinter Bus 3500 transit buses, with proper lift-operation instructions and a DVD-based training aid provided while the software solution was under investigation.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V173000 |
|---|---|
| Sprinter Bus customer service | 1-818-267-3000 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V173 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V173000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
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 →