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Campaign 13V422 Posted September 12, 2013 598 units

2009-2011 Champion Buses Recall 13V422: Door Circuit

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

Recall 13V422 covers 598 2009-2011 Champion buses for overheating door-header circuit boards. Repair is free at any franchised Champion dealer.

Champion is recalling 598 2009-2011 Defender, Ez-Trans, and other buses because A&M Systems door header circuit boards can develop high resistance after voltage spikes damage electrical components. The board can overheat and increase the risk of a fire; the Champion dealer repair will be free once available.

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What's wrong?

The A&M Systems door header is the electrical assembly tied to the bus door area on affected 2009-2011 Champion buses. Its model 3230 circuit board helps route power through the door equipment, so the door system receives electrical control when it is used. That board depends on stable voltage and clean electrical paths.

On these Champion buses, voltage spikes are the failure path. A spike damages electrical components and circuits on the board, which then develop high resistance. High resistance means electricity has a harder path through the board, so the door-header electronics no longer behave as designed.

The recall covers buses manufactured from August 1, 2009, through May 19, 2011, and equipped with the affected A&M Systems door headers. The source material does not list a driver warning sign before the circuit board is damaged. There is no warning sign before failure.

Who's affected?

Covers several Champion bus lines across the 2009-2011 model years, all tied to the electrical equipment component.

2009 Champion Defender Electrical
2010 Champion Defender Electrical
2011 Champion Defender Electrical
2011 Champion Ez-Trans Electrical
2010 Champion Ic Low Floor Electrical
Units affected598

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?

High resistance in the door header circuit board can overheat the board and increase the risk of a fire. Treat this as a service priority, especially if the door area shows signs of overheating, and arrange the inspection with a franchised dealer. Repair will be free at any franchised Champion dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2011 Champion Defender, Ez-Trans, Ic Low Floor, Challenger, American Coach, Cts-Re, Ic High Floor, American Crusader, Cts, Crusader, or Cts-Fe is included in this recall.
  2. Contact Champion customer service at 1-810-724-6474 to confirm repair instructions for your bus.
  3. Ask a franchised Champion dealer to inspect the door header and replace any defective model 3230 circuit board that overheats from high resistance.
  4. Bring the recall notice if Champion mailed one. If not, reference recall number 13V422 when you call.
  5. Park the bus away from buildings if you smell burning, see electrical damage near the door header, or suspect overheating before the inspection.

What happens at the repair

Champion began owner notices on October 22, 2013. Because the current remedy status is not listed, confirm repair availability with a Champion dealer before arranging service. At the dealer, a Champion technician inspects the door header and replaces any defective model 3230 circuit board in the A&M Systems door header. The dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall.

Timeline

September 12, 2013 NHTSA published the recall
October 22, 2013 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 13V422?

Recall 13V422 covers 598 2009-2011 Champion buses with A&M Systems door headers that contain model 3230 circuit boards. Voltage spikes can damage electrical parts and create high resistance. In recall 13V422, that high resistance can overheat the board and increase fire risk.

What should I do if my 2009-2011 Champion Defender, Ez-Trans, Ic Low Floor, Challenger, American Coach, Cts-Re, Ic High Floor, American Crusader, Cts, Crusader, or Cts-Fe is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 13V422. If it is, contact a franchised Champion dealer for a door-header inspection and circuit-board replacement if needed. Reference recall number 13V422 when you call.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Champion's remedy for recall 13V422 says dealers will inspect the door header and replace any defective circuit board free of charge. Parts and labor are covered under the recall repair.

What is the safety risk in recall 13V422?

The safety risk is fire. In recall 13V422, voltage spikes can damage the door-header circuit board, create high resistance, and cause the board to overheat. Champion dealers inspect the door header and replace defective circuit boards for free.

What if I bought this Champion bus used?

The free recall repair still applies. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in recall 13V422, especially if no owner letter reached you. If it is included, call a franchised Champion dealer or Champion at 1-810-724-6474.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V422000
Champion customer service1-810-724-6474
NHTSA recall #13V422
NHTSA recall # (full)13V422000

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 →