Recall 13V263 affects 132 2009 Turtle Top-modified Ford Odyssey vehicles for a wheelchair-lift cable short-circuit fire risk. Ricon provides a free cover kit.
Turtle Top is recalling 132 2009 Ford Odyssey vehicles because an armored wheelchair-lift pendant cable can sit too close to the lift and contact the power lug. That contact can create a short circuit and fire risk, and the repair will be free through a Ford dealer once available.
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What's wrong?
The 2009 Turtle Top Ford Odyssey uses a Ricon wheelchair lift to raise and lower a wheelchair or mobility device at the vehicle door. The lift is operated by a pendant, which is the handheld control connected by a cable. On these vehicles, that pendant cable has an optional armored covering, a protective metal jacket meant to guard the control wiring during use.
On affected Ford Odyssey vehicles, the armored pendant cable is positioned too close to the wheelchair lift path. As the lift moves, the cable does not clear the lift. That puts the cable where the moving lift hardware can catch, pinch, or interfere with it instead of leaving the control cable free.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or driver should treat binding, snagging, or unusual cable movement during lift operation as a reason to stop using the lift and arrange the free recall repair through the proper Turtle Top or Ford service path.
Who's affected?
| 2009 Turtle Top Ford Odyssey | Equipment |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 132 |
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?
A lift cable that contacts an uncovered or improperly covered power lug can short circuit and start a fire. No warning sign is listed before this electrical contact, so keep clear of the lift wiring and schedule service soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Ford dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009 Turtle Top Ford Odyssey is included in this recall.
- Wait for Turtle Top's owner notice before installing the Ricon supplemental cover kit; the kit and instructions are free.
- Call Turtle Top customer service at 1-800-296-2105 with questions and reference recall number 13V263 when you call.
- Contact a franchised Ford dealer if you need service help with the wheelchair lift or cannot install the kit yourself.
- Keep the wheelchair-lift armored cable clear of the power lug until the nonconductive cover kit is installed.
What happens at the repair
The source remedy says Turtle Top notified owners and Ricon sent a supplemental cover kit and instructions at no charge. Because the current remedy status is not listed as available in this record, do not assume a Ford dealer appointment can be scheduled from this page alone. The free repair path is to contact Turtle Top or Ricon Customer Service and ask how the Ricon lift cover kit is being handled for campaign 13V263. If a dealer or lift service location is needed, ask which Ford or Ricon authorized service point should install or inspect the kit.
Timeline
| June 24, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V263?
Recall 13V263 covers 132 2009 Turtle Top Ford Odyssey vehicles equipped with a Ricon wheelchair lift and optional armored pendant cable. The cable can contact the wheelchair lift power lug and create a short circuit that results in a fire. Ricon supplies the supplemental cover kit and instructions for free.
What should I do if my 2009 Turtle Top Ford Odyssey is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 13V263. If it is, call Turtle Top at 1-800-296-2105 and ask how to get the Ricon supplemental cover kit and instructions. Reference recall 13V263 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall remedy to be provided at no cost. For recall 13V263, Ricon sends owners a supplemental cover kit and instructions free of charge, and Turtle Top can confirm the remedy path for your specific vehicle.
What is the safety risk in recall 13V263?
The safety risk is fire from an electrical short circuit. If the armored pendant cable does not clear the wheelchair lift and contacts the power lug without a proper nonconductive cover, the circuit can short. Confirm your VIN, then get the free cover kit instructions.
What if I bought this Turtle Top Ford Odyssey used?
The recall still follows the vehicle. Used ownership does not remove the free remedy, and older specialty vehicles often miss mailed notices after resale. Check your VIN to confirm inclusion, then call Turtle Top with recall 13V263 and your vehicle information.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V263000 |
|---|---|
| Turtle Top customer service | 1-800-296-2105 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V263 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V263000 |
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 →