Recall 10V593 covers 107 2005-2008 Champion Challenger and International Defender buses for an evaporator resistor fire risk. Repair is free at any franchised International dealer.
Champion is recalling 107 2005-2008 Challenger and International Defender buses under recall 10V593 because the Trans Air TA 73 evaporator resistor can overheat if a blower-speed circuit shorts. The overheated resistor can melt and ignite the plastic blower housing, resulting in a fire; the repair at an International dealer will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The Trans Air TA 73 evaporator on 2005-2008 Champion Challenger and International Defender buses is part of the bus air-conditioning system. The blower pushes cabin air across the evaporator core, where heat is removed before the air returns to the passenger area. A power resistor in this unit controls blower speed by reducing electrical power for lower fan settings.
On included buses, a short in the low or medium speed circuit while the blower is running on high speed changes the current path. Instead of opening the fuse, supply voltage feeds back through the resistor to ground, and the circuit draws too little current to trip the fuse. That leaves the resistor path energized during a fault, so the normal fuse protection does not stop the electrical problem.
There is no warning sign before failure. The filing does not list a sound, smell, warning light, or blower-speed symptom that owners can count on before the electrical fault occurs.
Who's affected?
Spans the Challenger and International Defender across the 2005-2008 model years, with Equipment listed as the component for both bus lines.
| 2006 Champion Challenger | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2008 Champion International Defender | Equipment |
| 2007 Champion International Defender | Equipment |
| 2005 Champion Challenger | Equipment |
| 2007 Champion Challenger | Equipment |
| 2008 Champion Challenger | Equipment |
| Units affected | 107 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
An overheated blower speed resistor can melt and ignite the plastic blower housing, leading to a fire. If your VIN is included, schedule recall service promptly and ask the dealer whether the blower system needs to stay off until repair. Repair will be free at any franchised International dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2005-2008 Champion Challenger or International Defender is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised International dealer to ask about the free thermal-shutdown-device repair for the Trans Air evaporator blower resistor.
- Avoid using the affected blower system until the repair is complete; the resistor can overheat and ignite the plastic blower housing.
- Bring the recall notice if Champion mailed one. If not, reference recall number 10V593 when you call.
- Call Champion customer service at 1-800-673-2446 with questions about the repair path.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an International technician installs a thermal shutdown device in series with the speed resistors for the Trans Air TA 73 evaporator. That device is added to interrupt the circuit if the resistor area overheats. Champion's remedy says the service is performed free of charge. The safety recall began on December 6, 2010, but this source does not state a current remedy status, so confirm the repair path with the dealer before you bring in the bus.
Timeline
| November 18, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 6, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V593?
Recall 10V593 covers 107 2005-2008 Champion Challenger and International Defender buses equipped with Trans Air TA 73 evaporators. A short in the blower-speed circuit can overheat the power resistor and ignite the plastic blower housing. The repair adds a thermal shutdown device for free.
What should I do if my 2005-2008 Champion Challenger or International Defender is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in recall 10V593. If it is, contact a franchised International dealer or the Trans Air warranty and service center at 1-800-673-2446 to arrange the free thermal shutdown device installation.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Champion's remedy states that the thermal shutdown device installation will be performed free of charge. Federal recall law also requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost when your VIN is included in the campaign.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire. If the blower circuit shorts while the blower is running on high speed, the resistor can overheat, melt, and ignite the plastic blower housing. Confirm the VIN, then arrange the free repair before regular passenger service continues.
What if I bought this Champion bus used?
The free recall repair still applies to a used bus if its VIN is included in recall 10V593. The year and model are not enough. The VIN decides whether this specific Challenger or International Defender needs the thermal shutdown device installed.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V593000 |
|---|---|
| Champion customer service | 1-800-673-2446 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V593 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V593000 |
Source documents
-
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 →