Recall 15V768 covers 5,675 2006-2014 Elkhart Ecii buses for wheelchair-lift link-arm bearings that shift. Repair is free at any franchised Elkhart dealer.
Elkhart is recalling 5,675 2006-2014 Ecii transit buses because certain Ricon wheelchair lifts have folding link arms with oversized pivot holes, letting bearings move out of position. That movement can lead to platform mounting failure and allow the stowed lift platform to fall when the doors open, raising injury risk for the lift operator; Elkhart dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The wheelchair lift on 2006-2014 Elkhart Ecii transit buses raises and lowers a passenger using a mobility device between the curb and the bus floor. Its folding link arms guide and support the platform as it moves, and bearings sit in pivot holes so the arms rotate in the correct position.
On affected buses, certain Ricon lift link arms have pivot holes that are too large. That extra space lets the bearings move out of position. When a bearing slips out, the knuckle link arm can bend and the platform can crack while the lift is stowed. Replacement parts use the correct hole size, so the bearings stay where they belong.
What you can see before failure is a bearing that has moved out of position during inspection. If the lift looks misaligned, a bearing is displaced, or the platform shows cracking, keep the bus out of lift service until an Elkhart dealer checks it.
Who's affected?
Spans 9 model years, all tied to the same adaptive/mobility equipment component.
| 2012 Elkhart Ecii | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2010 Elkhart Ecii | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2009 Elkhart Ecii | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2007 Elkhart Ecii | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2014 Elkhart Ecii | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2006 Elkhart Ecii | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Elkhart Ecii | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Elkhart Ecii | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2013 Elkhart Ecii | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 5,675 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
Displaced bearings can let the stowed wheelchair lift platform move too much and fail at its mounts. When the doors open, the platform can fall out of the vehicle, increasing injury risk for the lift operator. A displaced bearing is visible during inspection. Repair is free at any franchised Elkhart dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2006-2014 Elkhart Ecii is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Elkhart dealer to schedule the free wheelchair-lift inspection and repair.
- Schedule the link-arm and platform inspection that checks for displaced bearings, cracks, and loose platform mounting.
- Bring the owner notice if you have it, and reference recall number 15V768 when you call.
- Avoid using the wheelchair lift until the dealer completes the inspection and replaces any damaged parts.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Elkhart technician inspects the wheelchair lift link arms for damage and displaced bearings, then checks the platform for cracks. Any damaged link arm, bearing, or platform part covered by recall 15V768 is replaced free of charge. Elkhart has a general reimbursement plan on file for this campaign. If you already paid for this lift repair before the recall work, bring repair invoices and proof of payment to the service desk and ask how to submit them.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 18, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 16, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 12, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| January 12, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 12, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V768?
Recall 15V768 covers 5,675 2006-2014 Elkhart Ecii transit buses with certain Ricon wheelchair lifts. The folding link arms have oversized pivot holes, which lets bearings move out of position and can lead to platform mounting failure.
What should I do if my 2006-2014 Elkhart Ecii is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 15V768. If it is, contact an Elkhart service point or Ricon customer service to arrange the wheelchair lift inspection and repair. Reference recall number 15V768 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 15V768, the lift link arms and platform are inspected, and any damaged parts are replaced free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is injury to the lift operator when the bus doors are opened. If the lift bearings move out of position, the stowed platform can move too much, the platform mounting can fail, and the wheelchair lift platform can fall out of the vehicle.
What if my bus already had the 2014 wheelchair lift recall repair?
Your VIN still needs to be checked for recall 15V768. The recall record says buses and wheelchair lifts repaired under the similar 2014 recall are still included in this recall, so the prior repair does not clear this defect.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V768000 |
|---|---|
| Elkhart customer service | 1-800-322-2884 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V768 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V768000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (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 May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →