Recall 13V524 affects 2 2009 Turtle Top-modified Ford Odyssey Lt buses for passenger-door circuit boards that overheat. Free repair at any franchised Ford dealer.
Turtle Top is recalling 2 2009 Ford Odyssey Lt transit buses under recall 13V524 because voltage spikes can damage the A & M Systems passenger door actuator circuit board and make it overheat. That high resistance raises the risk of a fire, and the Ford dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The passenger entrance and exit door on the 2009 Turtle Top Ford Odyssey Lt transit bus uses an electric actuator to move the door when the driver commands it. The actuator is the powered unit that turns an electrical signal into door movement, and its circuit board controls that action.
On affected buses, voltage spikes can damage the actuator's electrical components and circuits. A voltage spike is a sudden jump above the normal electrical level. That damage causes the circuit board to develop high resistance, which means electricity no longer moves through the board as designed. When the circuit board resists current, the actuator no longer has a clean electrical path to operate the door.
There is no warning sign before failure. The first sign can be a passenger entrance or exit door that does not respond normally when commanded.
Who's affected?
| 2009 Turtle Top Ford Odyssey Lt | electrical system |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 2 |
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?
High resistance in the circuit board can overheat the board and increase the risk of a fire. If your VIN is included, contact the dealer and ask how to handle the vehicle before the repair opens. 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 Lt is included in this recall.
- Contact Turtle Top customer service at 1-800-296-2105 if you did not receive the owner notice mailed December 9, 2013.
- Ask A&M Systems about the free circuit-board replacement that fixes the overheating passenger door actuator board.
- Reference recall number 13V524 when you call Turtle Top, A&M Systems, or the service provider handling the repair.
- Park the bus away from structures if the passenger door actuator area smells hot, shows smoke, or has electrical damage before the repair.
What happens at the repair
Turtle Top's stated repair is for A&M Systems to replace the affected passenger door circuit boards, free of charge. A Ford service desk can help route the bus through the correct recall process, but the repair work described by Turtle Top is the circuit board replacement. The owner notification began on December 9, 2013. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall.
Timeline
| October 18, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 9, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V524?
Recall 13V524 covers 2 2009 Turtle Top Ford Odyssey Lt transit buses built on Ford chassis with A&M Systems passenger entrance and exit doors. Voltage spikes can damage the door actuator circuit board, causing high resistance and overheating risk.
What should I do if my 2009 Turtle Top Ford Odyssey Lt is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 13V524. If it is, contact Turtle Top at 1-800-296-2105 and reference recall 13V524. Turtle Top will arrange the affected A&M Systems circuit-board replacement at no cost.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost, and Turtle Top's remedy says A&M Systems will replace the affected circuit boards free of charge. Keep the recall number handy when you contact Turtle Top or A&M Systems.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire. High resistance in the passenger door actuator circuit board can cause the board to overheat. If your VIN is included, arrange the free circuit-board replacement before keeping the bus in passenger service.
What if I bought this Turtle Top bus used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether this specific 2009 Turtle Top Ford Odyssey Lt is included, then call Turtle Top with recall number 13V524.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V524000 |
|---|---|
| Turtle Top customer service | 1-800-296-2105 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V524 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V524000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (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 →