Recall 14V302 covers 25 2014 Champion Bus Defender shuttle buses with seat belt buckles that can stick. Free dealer inspection and replacement.
Champion Bus is recalling 25 2014 Defender shuttle buses because IMMI L9 seat belt buckles can leave the latch plate partly engaged after the release button is pressed, making the belt hard to unlatch. In an emergency, delayed exit raises the risk of injury; the Champion Bus dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The IMMI-brand L9 seat belt buckle on the 2014 Champion Bus Defender is the latch that holds the passenger belt closed. When a passenger buckles in, the latch plate slides into the buckle and stays locked until the release button is pressed. The buckle has to hold during travel and release cleanly when the passenger needs to get out.
On affected Defender shuttle buses built on Freightliner M2 chassis, the release button does not always free the latch plate cleanly. The latch plate can stay partly engaged inside the buckle after the button is pressed. That leaves the seat belt hard to unlatch and means the bus does not meet FMVSS No. 209 for seat belt assemblies.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem shows up when someone presses the release button and the belt does not unlatch normally.
Who's affected?
| 2014 Champion Bus Defender | seat belt |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 25 |
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?
A seat belt latch plate that stays partly engaged after the release button is pressed can slow exit from the vehicle. In an emergency, that delay increases the risk of injury. If the buckle does not release cleanly, stop using that seating position and arrange inspection. Repair will be free at any franchised Champion Bus dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014 Champion Bus Defender is included in this recall.
- Contact Champion Bus customer service at 1-810-724-6474 for current repair instructions before arranging service.
- Ask whether a DTNA dealer handles the free seat-belt-buckle inspection and replacement that fixes the hard-to-unlatch buckle.
- Bring the recall notice if Champion Bus or DTNA mailed one. If not, reference recall number 14V302 when you call.
- Avoid passenger service until Champion Bus or the servicing dealer confirms the seat belt buckles latch and release correctly.
What happens at the repair
Once the dealer repair is available, the service visit centers on the seat belt buckle on the affected Freightliner chassis. A Champion Bus technician inspects the buckle and replaces it when the latch plate does not release correctly. Parts and labor are free under the recall. The remedy record also notes that owners were notified and the recall began on May 27, 2014, so ask the service desk to confirm the open campaign before work starts.
Timeline
| January 21, 2014 | Owner notification mailed |
|---|---|
| May 28, 2014 | NHTSA published the recall |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 14V302?
Recall 14V302 covers 25 2014 Champion Bus Defender shuttle buses built on Freightliner M2 chassis with IMMI L9 seat belt buckles. The buckle latch plate can remain partly engaged after release, making the belt difficult to unlatch and hindering emergency exit.
What should I do if my 2014 Champion Bus Defender is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific shuttle bus is included in recall 14V302. If it is, contact Champion Bus at 1-810-724-6474 or ask the service desk to arrange the seat belt buckle inspection and replacement tied to this recall.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair to be completed at no cost. For recall 14V302, DTNA dealers inspect and replace the affected seat belt buckle as necessary free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is delayed exit during an emergency. If the latch plate stays partly engaged after the release button is pressed, a passenger can have trouble unlatching the belt, which increases the risk of injury during an emergency evacuation.
When did the recall repair begin?
The recall repair began on May 27, 2014. Champion Bus owners with an included Defender shuttle bus should reference recall 14V302 when contacting Champion Bus or the dealer service desk about the seat belt buckle inspection.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/14V302000 |
|---|---|
| Champion Bus customer service | 1-810-724-6474 |
| NHTSA recall # | 14V302 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 14V302000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →