Recall 11V141 covers 974 2007-2011 Champion buses with Carrier GENV EM-1 evaporator fuse holders that can arc and create fire risk. Retrofit repair is free.
Champion is recalling 974 2007-2011 Challenger, American Crusader, Cts, Crusader, Defender, American Coach, and Ez-Trans vehicles equipped with Carrier GENV EM-1 evaporator units because time, heat, or vibration can loosen a fuse in its holder. High resistance and arcing can melt the fuse holder, produce flame or smoke, and raise the risk of fire; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The Carrier GenV EM-1 evaporator unit is part of the air conditioning system on affected 2007-2011 Champion buses. The evaporator helps cool cabin air, and its electrical circuit uses a fuse held in a fuse holder. That fuse is meant to protect the circuit by interrupting power when electrical current exceeds the designed limit.
On these buses, time, temperature, or vibration can loosen the fuse inside the holder. A loose fuse no longer makes a clean, tight electrical connection. That creates high resistance at the contact point, and the electrical current can arc across the gap instead of flowing normally through the fuse holder.
There is no warning sign before failure. The recall information does not list a driver-visible symptom before the fuse loosens, so an operator should not rely on a noise, light, or air conditioning change to identify the defect first.
Who's affected?
Spans 7 Champion bus lines across 2007-2011, all tied to the air conditioner.
| 2007 Champion Challenger | Air conditioner |
|---|---|
| 2008 Champion Challenger | Air conditioner |
| 2010 Champion American Crusader | Air conditioner |
| 2009 Champion Cts | Air conditioner |
| 2011 Champion Crusader | Air conditioner |
| 2009 Champion Crusader | Air conditioner |
| 2010 Champion Crusader | Air conditioner |
| 2010 Champion Challenger | Air conditioner |
| 2011 Champion Bus Defender | Air conditioner |
| 2009 Champion American Coach | Air conditioner |
| 2010 Champion Ez-Trans | Air conditioner |
| 2008 Champion Cts | Air conditioner |
| 2008 Champion Crusader | Air conditioner |
| 2009 Champion Challenger | Air conditioner |
| 2011 Champion Challenger | Air conditioner |
| 2008 Champion Defender | Air conditioner |
| 2009 Champion Defender | Air conditioner |
| 2010 Champion Defender | Air conditioner |
| Units affected | 974 |
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?
Electrical arcing at the fuse holder can melt the holder and bring flame, smoke, and fire risk. If you smell smoke or see flame, stop using the bus and call the dealer before moving it again. Repair will be free at any franchised Champion dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2011 Champion Challenger, American Crusader, Cts, Crusader, Defender, American Coach, or Ez-Trans is included in this recall.
- Watch for Champion's recall notice, which was mailed on March 8, 2011, and keep any owner letter with the bus paperwork.
- Contact Champion or Carrier before using the air conditioner if you did not receive the notice; ask how to obtain the Carrier GenV EM-1 retrofit kit and repair instructions.
- Reference recall number 11V141 when you call Champion, Carrier, or a service location.
- Avoid running the air conditioner until the fuse-holder retrofit is complete because arcing can melt the fuse holder and lead to flame, smoke, or fire.
What happens at the repair
Champion's remedy is to send owners instructions for getting the Carrier retrofit kit and having the Carrier GenV EM-1 evaporator unit repaired. At the service visit, a Champion technician follows Carrier's repair instructions and installs the retrofit kit so the fuse and fuse holder are secured against loosening, resistance buildup, and arcing. The remedy text does not list a current remedy status, so treat this as the known repair path rather than a same-day scheduling promise. The dealer repair will be free once available.
Timeline
| March 1, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 8, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V141?
Recall 11V141 covers 974 2007-2011 Champion buses equipped with Carrier GenV EM-1 evaporator units. The fuse can loosen in the holder, causing high resistance and arcing. Champion will provide information for obtaining the Carrier retrofit kit and repair instructions at no cost.
What should I do if my 2007-2011 Champion Challenger, American Crusader, Cts, Crusader, Defender, American Coach, or Ez-Trans is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 11V141. If it is, contact Champion or Carrier for the retrofit kit and repair instructions, then arrange the free recall service through the authorized repair path they provide.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to correct the defect at no cost, and Champion's remedy states that the retrofit service is performed free of charge. The free repair path uses the Carrier retrofit kit and repair instructions.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire. In recall 11V141, a loose fuse can create high resistance and arcing inside the Carrier GenV EM-1 evaporator unit. If enough arcing occurs, the fuse holder can melt and be accompanied by flame, smoke, and fire.
What if I bought this Champion bus used?
The recall still follows the bus, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Champion bus is included in recall 11V141. If it is included and you never received the notice, contact Champion or Carrier and reference the recall number.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V141000 |
|---|---|
| Champion customer service | 1-800-793-4741 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V141 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V141000 |
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 →