Recall 14V821 affects 773 2012-2014 Champion transit buses for warning triangles with low reflectivity. Replacement is free at any franchised Champion dealer.
Champion is recalling 773 2012-2014 transit buses, including Challenger, Defender, and Platinum Shuttle models, because their C&J triangle warning signs do not reflect enough light. A dim warning triangle can fail to alert traffic when the bus is parked and raises crash risk, and Champion dealers will replace the kit free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The triangle warning signs are portable reflective triangles stored on the bus for roadside emergencies. When a 2012-2014 Champion bus is stopped after a breakdown, the driver places the triangles behind or around the vehicle so approaching traffic can see the hazard and move around it.
On affected buses, the warning kit includes certain C&J triangles made between April 2011 and April 2014. Test reports found that these triangles do not reflect enough light to meet the federal warning-device standard. The triangle can still look like a normal roadside marker, but it does not send back enough light for the job it is supposed to do.
There is no warning sign before failure. The label and production date are the practical clues: noncompliant triangles are marked C&J and have production dates from April 2011 through April 2014.
Who's affected?
This group includes shuttle and transport bus nameplates sold under Champion and Federal Coach, all tied to the same Equipment component.
| 2014 Champion Challenger | Equipment |
|---|---|
| 2014 Champion Crusader | Equipment |
| 2012 Champion Defender | Equipment |
| 2013 Champion Defender | Equipment |
| 2014 Champion Defender | Equipment |
| 2014 Champion Hcac | Equipment |
| 2012 Champion Platinum Shuttle | Equipment |
| 2013 Champion Platinum Shuttle | Equipment |
| 2014 Champion Platinum Shuttle | Equipment |
| 2012 Champion Stacked Rail | Equipment |
| 2013 Champion Stacked Rail | Equipment |
| 2014 Champion Stacked Rail | Equipment |
| 2014 Champion Lf Transport | Equipment |
| 2014 Champion Cts-Fe | Equipment |
| 2014 Champion Cts-Re | Equipment |
| 2013 Champion Cts-Re | Equipment |
| 2013 Champion M1235 | Equipment |
| 2013 Champion Ez-Street | Equipment |
| 2012 Champion Cts-Re | Equipment |
| 2012 Champion Cts-Fe | Equipment |
| 2013 Champion Cts-Fe | Equipment |
| 2013 Champion Crusader | Equipment |
| 2013 Champion Challenger | Equipment |
| 2014 Federal Coach Spirit | Equipment |
| 2012 Federal Coach Premier | Equipment |
| 2013 Federal Coach Premier | Equipment |
| 2014 Federal Coach Premier | Equipment |
| 2013 Federal Coach Spirit | Equipment |
| 2012 Federal Coach Spirit | Equipment |
| 2012 Champion Hcac | Equipment |
| 2012 Champion M1235 | Equipment |
| 2014 Champion M1235 | Equipment |
| 2014 Champion Ez-Street | Equipment |
| 2012 Champion Ez-Street | Equipment |
| 2014 Champion Hc American | Equipment |
| 2013 Champion Hc American | Equipment |
| 2012 Champion Hc American | Equipment |
| 2013 Champion Hcac | Equipment |
| 2013 Champion Lf Transport | Equipment |
| 2014 Champion American Crusader | Equipment |
| 2013 Champion American Crusader | Equipment |
| 2012 Champion American Crusader | Equipment |
| 2012 Champion Challenger | Equipment |
| 2012 Champion Lf Transport | Equipment |
| 2012 Champion Crusader | Equipment |
| Units affected | 773 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
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?
If the warning triangles do not reflect light properly, other drivers have less notice that the vehicle is stopped or parked. That raises crash risk, especially when the vehicle is disabled near traffic. Use extra caution with roadside stops and arrange the free replacement. Repair is free at any franchised Champion dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2014 Champion bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Champion dealer or Champion customer service to schedule the free triangle-warning-kit replacement.
- Inspect the triangle warning signs for production dates from April 2011 to April 2014, and replace affected C&J triangles so parked buses are visible to other drivers.
- Bring the recall notice if Champion mailed one. If not, reference recall number 14V821 when you call.
- Avoid relying on the affected triangle warning kit during a roadside stop until the replacement is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Champion technician checks the triangle warning signs for production dates from April 2011 through April 2014. If the kit falls in that date range, the affected triangle warning signs are replaced at no charge. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Champion has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid out of pocket for this repair. Bring repair paperwork and payment records to the service desk so the dealer can explain the reimbursement process.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 29, 2014 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 5, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
| January 5, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 6, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 16, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 14V821?
Recall 14V821 covers 773 2012-2014 Champion transit buses equipped with C&J triangle warning signs from Imperial Supplies. The signs fail to reflect enough light under the federal warning-device standard, and Champion will replace the affected triangles for free.
What should I do if my 2012-2014 Champion bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 14V821. If it is, inspect the triangle warning kit for production dates from April 2011 to April 2014, then contact Champion customer service at 1-810-724-6474 for the free replacement.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost, and Champion will replace the affected triangle warning signs free of charge. The recall repair has been available since January 6, 2015.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is poor roadside visibility when the bus is parked. Warning triangles that do not reflect light properly fail to warn approaching traffic, increasing the risk of a crash. Keep the correct warning equipment with the bus after the free replacement is complete.
What if I bought this Champion bus used?
The free recall still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN, then contact Champion customer service with recall 14V821 so the service team can confirm whether your bus still needs the triangle warning sign replacement.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/14V821000 |
|---|---|
| Champion customer service | 1-810-724-6474 |
| NHTSA recall # | 14V821 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 14V821000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (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 →