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Campaign 12V577 Posted December 10, 2012 49 units

2011-2013 Champion CX/3035RE Recall 12V577: Brake Lights

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published June 2, 2026

Recall 12V577 covers 49 2011-2013 Champion CX300, CX340, CX380, and 3035RE buses for loose diode jumpers. Dealer inspection and repair are free.

Champion is recalling 49 2011-2013 CX300, CX340, CX380, and 3035RE transit buses under recall 12V577 because diode jumper connectors on Freightliner XB and XC chassis can loosen and open brake-related circuits. If the circuit opens, cruise control can stay engaged when the brakes are applied or the brake lights can fail to illuminate; the Champion dealer repair will be free once available.

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What's wrong?

The 2011-2013 Champion CX380, CX300, 3035RE, and CX340 buses use electrical connectors on Freightliner XB and XC custom chassis to route signals through diode jumpers. A diode jumper is a small electrical path that lets current move in the intended direction. In this recall, those connectors support brake-related signals for cruise control and brake lights.

The connector can loosen and leave an open circuit, which means the electrical path is broken. When that happens, pressing the brake pedal does not send the signal that turns cruise control off, and it also does not send the signal that lights the brake lamps. The brake pedal itself is still the driver's control point, but the affected circuits do not respond as designed.

There is no warning sign before failure. The first visible clue is a brake light that does not illuminate or cruise control that does not disengage when the brake pedal is pressed.

Who's affected?

Spans four Champion bus models across the 2011-2013 model years. The same three component areas appear across the listed CX380, CX300, 3035RE, and CX340 buses.

2013 Champion CX380 Cruise control
2013 Champion CX380 Brake lights
2013 Champion CX380 electrical system
2012 Champion CX300 Cruise control
2012 Champion CX300 Brake lights
Units affected49

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 cruise control does not disengage when you press the brake, the vehicle can keep accelerating longer than expected. Brake lights that stay dark also hide your intent from traffic behind you, raising crash risk. Schedule the inspection soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Champion dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2013 Champion CX380, CX300, 3035RE, or CX340 bus is included in this recall.
  2. Use the owner notice from Champion or DTNA if you have it, or ask Champion for current instructions before arranging the dealer visit.
  3. Contact a franchised Champion dealer and reference recall number 12V577 when you call.
  4. Ask the dealer about the diode-jumper inspection that fixes loose brake-light and cruise-control circuits.
  5. Drive with extra space until the inspection is complete, because the brake lights and cruise-control disengagement circuit are part of this recall.

What happens at the repair

The repair path calls for dealer inspection of the diode jumper connectors on the affected chassis. A Champion technician checks that the jumpers are fully locked in place and corrects any loose connector so the brake pedal circuits work as intended. The dealer repair will be free once available. The source does not provide a separate reimbursement plan, so this section does not add reimbursement instructions.

Timeline

December 10, 2012 NHTSA published the recall
December 26, 2012 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 12V577?

Recall 12V577 covers 49 2011-2013 Champion CX380, CX300, 3035RE, and CX340 transit buses built on Freightliner XB and XC custom chassis. Loose diode-jumper connectors can affect cruise-control disengagement and brake-light operation. Freightliner dealers inspect and correct the diode jumpers for free.

What should I do if my 2011-2013 Champion CX380, CX300, 3035RE, or CX340 is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 12V577. If it is, contact a franchised Freightliner dealer for the diode-jumper inspection and correction. Reference recall number 12V577 when you call, and ask DTNA Warranty Campaigns at (800) 547-0712 for help with scheduling.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 12V577, Freightliner dealers inspect the diode jumpers to confirm they are fully locked in place and correct the vehicle as needed for free.

What is the safety risk?

The risk in NHTSA campaign 12V577 is that the cruise control can fail to disengage when the brakes are applied, increasing crash risk. The same loose connector issue can stop the brake lights from illuminating, so drivers behind the bus do not get the brake signal.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V577000
Champion customer service(800) 547-0712
NHTSA recall #12V577
NHTSA recall # (full)12V577000

Source documents

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 →