Recall 12V164 affects 38 2009-2011 Girardin G5 school buses with wheelchair lift roll stop latches that bend or misalign. Authorized Braun dealers repair it free.
Girardin is recalling 38 2009-2011 G5 school buses equipped with Braun Century-2 and Vista-2 wheelchair lifts because the outer barrier roll stop latches can bend or move out of alignment. A wheelchair occupant can ride over an insufficiently latched roll stop when the platform is elevated, and the dealer repair will be 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 NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The wheelchair lift on 2009-2011 Girardin G5 school buses raises and lowers a wheelchair between the ground and the bus floor. The outer barrier is the platform edge that folds up at the outside of the lift. Its roll stop latches hold that barrier in place so the wheelchair stays on the platform while the lift moves.
On buses equipped with Braun Century-2 or Vista-2 lifts, frequent use can bend the roll stop latches or move them out of alignment. When the latch no longer lines up correctly, the outer barrier does not lock as intended. That removes the part meant to stop a wheelchair from rolling off the outside edge of the lift platform.
There is no warning sign before failure. Before using the lift, a driver or attendant should look for a latch that appears bent, an outer barrier that sits out of line, or a barrier that does not latch squarely.
Who's affected?
Covers the G5 across the 2009, 2010, and 2011 model years, with the same adaptive or mobility equipment component listed for each year.
| 2011 Girardin G5 | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2009 Girardin G5 | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Girardin G5 | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 38 |
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 insufficiently latched roll stop can let a wheelchair occupant ride over the platform edge while the lift is raised. A fall from the elevated platform can cause injury. Use the wheelchair lift with care, keep the occupant back from the roll stop, and call the dealer for recall instructions. Repair will be free at any franchised Girardin dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2011 Girardin G5 is included in this recall.
- Wait for the owner notice, then use it to confirm the authorized repair location for the free Braun wheelchair-lift roll-stop latch repair.
- Call Girardin customer service at 1-819-477-2012 with questions about the repair location and reference recall number 12V164.
- Keep the wheelchair lift out of passenger service until the roll stop latches on the outer barrier are repaired.
- Bring the recall notice to the authorized repair visit if you received one.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Girardin technician handles the wheelchair lift recall repair for the Braun Century-2 and Vista-2 lifts covered by campaign 12V164. The source does not give a step-by-step repair procedure, but it identifies the problem as roll stop latches on the outer barrier that become bent or misaligned with frequent use. The dealer repair corrects that lift barrier issue. Parts and labor are covered under the recall once the repair is available through the authorized dealer process.
Timeline
| April 12, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 11, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V164?
Recall 12V164 covers 38 2009-2011 Girardin G5 school buses equipped with Braun Century-2 and Vista-2 wheelchair lifts. The outer barrier roll stop latches can bend or shift out of position, leaving the barrier insufficiently latched. Authorized Braun dealers perform the repair for free.
What should I do if my 2009-2011 Girardin G5 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 12V164. If it is, contact Girardin at 1-819-477-2012 or the service desk handling your bus fleet, and ask for the free Braun wheelchair lift repair.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the recall remedy states that authorized Braun dealers perform the repair free of charge. Reference recall 12V164 when you schedule the lift service.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is a wheelchair occupant passing over an insufficiently latched roll stop while the lift platform is raised. If that happens, the occupant can fall and sustain injury. Until the repair is complete, inspect the lift barrier before use and schedule the free repair.
What if I bought this Girardin G5 used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific 2009-2011 Girardin G5 is included, then reference recall 12V164 when you call about the wheelchair lift repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V164000 |
|---|---|
| Girardin customer service | 1-819-477-2012 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V164 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V164000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →