Recall 14V628 covers 188 2007-2014 Trans Tech school buses with Ricon wheelchair lifts that can crack. Repair is free at a franchised Trans Tech dealer.
Trans Tech is recalling 188 2007-2014 Student Safety Transport, Roadstar, and Student Transporter Aero school buses because Ricon wheelchair lift platform side plates can crack. A cracked side plate can let the platform separate from the lift and fall when the doors open, which raises injury risk for the lift operator; the Trans Tech dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The wheelchair lift on 2007-2014 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport, Roadstar, and Student Transporter Aero school buses is adaptive mobility equipment used to raise and lower a wheelchair user between the ground and the bus floor. The platform is the flat lift surface, and the side plate helps support and locate that platform while it moves.
On affected buses equipped with certain Ricon S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 lifts, the platform side plate can crack. NHTSA campaign 14V628 identifies the cracked side plate as the defect, but no separate root cause is stated. A cracked plate can weaken the lift structure that supports the rider during loading or unloading.
There is no warning sign before failure. Drivers, aides, and service staff should treat any visible crack, bent lift hardware, or unusual platform movement as a reason to stop using the lift until it is inspected.
Who's affected?
Spans three Trans Tech bus lines from 2007-2014, all tied to adaptive mobility equipment.
| 2014 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2013 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2009 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2012 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2007 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Trans Tech Roadstar | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Trans Tech Student Transporter Aero | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2009 Trans Tech Student Transporter Aero | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Trans Tech Student Transporter Aero | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Trans Tech Student Transporter Aero | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2012 Trans Tech Student Transporter Aero | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2013 Trans Tech Student Transporter Aero | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2014 Trans Tech Student Transporter Aero | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Trans Tech Roadstar | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2012 Trans Tech Roadstar | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2013 Trans Tech Roadstar | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2014 Trans Tech Roadstar | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2007 Trans Tech Roadstar | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Trans Tech Roadstar | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2009 Trans Tech Roadstar | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 188 |
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?
Cracked platform side plates can let the lift platform separate from the lift and rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors open, the platform can fall out and injure the lift operator. Keep operators clear of the lift door area and schedule the recall work soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Trans Tech dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2014 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport, Roadstar, or Student Transporter Aero is included in this recall.
- Contact Trans Tech customer service at 1-845-988-2333 to confirm current repair instructions for recall number 14V628.
- Ask whether the wheelchair lift needs supplemental platform support bumpers or full platform replacement to address cracked platform side plates.
- Keep passengers and operators clear of the wheelchair lift until Trans Tech confirms the platform side plates have been inspected or repaired.
What happens at the repair
Once the dealer repair is available, a Trans Tech technician installs supplemental platform support bumpers on the affected Ricon wheelchair lift. If the lift platform has already started cracking, the platform is replaced instead. The repair is free under the recall, including the replacement platform when cracking has started. The notice also lists Trans Tech customer service and Ricon customer service for repair questions, but the repair path stays with the dealer handling the bus.
Timeline
| October 7, 2014 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 1, 2014 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 14V628?
Recall 14V628 covers 188 2007-2014 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport, Roadstar, and Student Transporter Aero school buses equipped with certain Ricon wheelchair lifts. The lift platform side plate can crack, and Trans Tech and Ricon will supply support bumpers or replace a cracked platform for free.
What should I do if my 2007-2014 Trans Tech Student Safety Transport, Roadstar, or Student Transporter Aero is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 14V628. If it is, contact a Trans Tech service location or Trans Tech customer service at 1-845-988-2333 to arrange the wheelchair-lift remedy. Reference recall 14V628 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall remedy to be performed at no cost, and the recall record says Ricon will supply supplemental platform support bumpers. Any lift platform that has already started cracking will be replaced free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is injury to the lift operator. If the platform side plates crack, the wheelchair-lift platform can separate from the lift and rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors open, the platform can fall out.
What warning signs should I watch for on the wheelchair lift?
Look for cracks in the wheelchair-lift platform side plates. Do not operate the lift if the platform shows cracking or sits against the lift door. Contact Trans Tech or Ricon service support before using the lift again.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/14V628000 |
|---|---|
| Trans Tech customer service | 1-845-988-2333 |
| NHTSA recall # | 14V628 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 14V628000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 1, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →