Recall 14V766 affects 5 2008-2014 Hometown Trolley Villager buses for cracking Ricon wheelchair lift side plates. Ricon service-center repair is free.
Hometown Trolley is recalling 5 2008-2014 Villager transit buses because Ricon wheelchair lift platform side plates can crack. A cracked side plate can let the lift platform separate and fall when the lift door opens, increasing injury risk to the lift operator; Hometown Trolley dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The wheelchair lift on a 2008-2014 Hometown Trolley Villager transit bus is the platform system that raises and lowers a passenger using a wheelchair or mobility device between the curb and the bus floor. Its platform side plate helps support the platform as it pivots and carries weight during loading and unloading. When that plate stays intact, the platform remains aligned through the lift cycle.
On these Villager buses, certain Ricon S2000 and 5500 Series lifts were built with platform side plates that can crack. The reported crack location is at the base of the platform side plate, near the pivot area that carries repeated movement and load. Once that plate cracks, the platform hardware no longer has the same support it was designed to provide.
The warning sign is visible cracking at the base of the lift platform side plate. Check the lift area before using it, and report any crack to the service provider before the lift is placed back in service.
Who's affected?
The scope runs across seven model years and centers on the same adaptive mobility equipment component.
| 2008 Hometown Trolley Villager | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2009 Hometown Trolley Villager | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Hometown Trolley Villager | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Hometown Trolley Villager | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2012 Hometown Trolley Villager | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2013 Hometown Trolley Villager | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2014 Hometown Trolley Villager | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 5 |
A matching model year does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
A cracked platform side plate can let the wheelchair lift platform separate and rest against the lift door. When the door opens, the platform can fall out and injure the lift operator. Watch for cracking at the base, keep people clear of the lift area, and schedule the repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Hometown Trolley dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2008-2014 Hometown Trolley Villager is included in this recall.
- Contact Hometown Trolley customer service to schedule service with a Ricon dealer or service center for the free wheelchair-lift platform-support bumper installation.
- Keep the wheelchair lift out of service if the platform side plate shows cracking, and have the cracked platform replaced free of charge.
- Bring the owner letter if available, and reference recall number 14V766 when scheduling service.
What happens at the repair
At the Ricon dealer or service center, a Hometown Trolley technician installs supplemental platform support bumpers on the wheelchair lift. The technician also checks the lift platform side plates for cracking. If the platform has started to crack, the cracked platform is replaced. Parts and labor are covered under the recall, so the bus operator does not pay for the bumper installation or any needed platform replacement.
Timeline
| December 1, 2014 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
|---|---|
| December 2, 2014 | NHTSA published the recall |
| December 8, 2014 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 16, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 14V766?
Recall 14V766 covers 5 2008-2014 Hometown Trolley Villager transit buses with Ricon wheelchair lifts. The lift platform side plate can crack, allowing the platform to separate and rest against the lift door. Hometown Trolley will arrange a free repair through a Ricon dealer or service center.
What should I do if my 2008-2014 Hometown Trolley Villager is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 14V766. If it is, contact Hometown Trolley customer service at 1-715-478-5090 or a Ricon dealer or service center to schedule the lift repair. Reference recall 14V766 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair to be performed at no cost. Hometown Trolley will have supplemental platform support bumpers installed, and any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is injury to the lift operator. If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors open, the platform can fall out. The repair adds platform support bumpers or replaces a cracked platform.
What if I bought the Hometown Trolley Villager used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Villager is included, then call Hometown Trolley customer service or a Ricon service location with recall 14V766.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/14V766000 |
|---|---|
| Hometown Trolley customer service | 1-715-478-5090 |
| NHTSA recall # | 14V766 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 14V766000 |
Source documents
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 →