Recall 16V009 covers 276 2006-2014 Turtle Top Odyssey, Odyssey Lt, Odyssey Xl, Terra Transport, and Vanterra vehicles with wheelchair lift link-arm bearing defects. Repair is free at any franchised Turtle Top dealer.
Turtle Top is recalling 276 2006-2014 Odyssey, Odyssey Lt, Odyssey Xl, Terra Transport, and Vanterra buses and vans equipped with certain Ricon wheelchair lifts. Oversized pivot holes in the folding link arms can let bearings move out of position, and excessive platform movement raises the risk of injury when the doors open; Turtle Top dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The affected 2006-2014 Turtle Top Odyssey Xl, Odyssey Lt, Odyssey, Terra Transport, and Vanterra vehicles use a Ricon S-Series wheelchair lift. The lift platform is raised and lowered by folding link arms, and bearings at the pivot points help those arms move in a controlled path.
On these lifts, the pivot holes in the folding or knuckle link arms are larger than they should be. That extra space lets the bearings move out of position or withdraw from the arm. When the lift is stowed, the looseness lets the lift oscillate, which stresses the link arms near the pivot hole and leads to cracks or bent arms. If the damage continues unchecked, the lift becomes inoperable and unsafe for the operator.
There is a visible warning sign during inspection. If a bearing has moved out of position, it can be seen at the lift arm pivot area before the lift fails.
Who's affected?
Spans 5 Turtle Top bus lines across the 2006-2014 model years, all tied to the same adaptive mobility equipment component.
| 2007 Turtle Top Odyssey Xl | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2008 Turtle Top Odyssey Xl | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Turtle Top Odyssey Xl | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Turtle Top Odyssey Xl | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2012 Turtle Top Odyssey Xl | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Turtle Top Odyssey Lt | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Turtle Top Odyssey | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2012 Turtle Top Odyssey | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2012 Turtle Top Terra Transport | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Turtle Top Odyssey | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Turtle Top Terra Transport | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2013 Turtle Top Odyssey | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2006 Turtle Top Odyssey | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2007 Turtle Top Odyssey | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Turtle Top Odyssey | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2009 Turtle Top Odyssey | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2009 Turtle Top Odyssey Lt | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Turtle Top Odyssey Lt | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2014 Turtle Top Odyssey | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Turtle Top Vanterra | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2013 Turtle Top Vanterra | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2007 Turtle Top Vanterra | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 276 |
| 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 this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
Displaced bearings allow excessive movement in the stowed wheelchair lift platform and can lead to platform mounting failure. When the doors are opened, that failure can let the platform fall out of the vehicle and injure the lift operator. Displaced bearings are visible during inspection, so schedule the inspection and repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Turtle Top dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2006-2014 Turtle Top Odyssey Xl, Odyssey Lt, Odyssey, Terra Transport, or Vanterra is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Turtle Top dealer to schedule the free wheelchair-lift inspection and repair that checks the link arms, bearings, and platform for damage.
- Bring the recall notice if Turtle Top mailed one. If not, reference recall number 16V009 when you call.
- Avoid using the wheelchair lift until the dealer inspects it, and keep people clear of the platform area when opening the doors.
- Call Turtle Top customer service at 1-574-831-4340 with questions about the recall or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884 with lift-specific questions.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Turtle Top technician inspects the wheelchair lift link arms for damage and displaced bearings, then checks the platform for cracks. Any damaged lift parts are replaced free under the recall. The recall repair is available now, and parts and labor are covered. Turtle Top has a general reimbursement plan on file for eligible out-of-pocket repairs paid before the recall notice. Bring repair invoices, receipts, and any lift-service paperwork to the service desk so the claim can be reviewed under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| January 13, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 1, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 21, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V009?
Recall 16V009 covers 276 2006-2014 Turtle Top Odyssey Xl, Odyssey Lt, Odyssey, Terra Transport, and Vanterra vehicles with certain Ricon wheelchair lifts. The lift link arms can allow bearings to move out of position, and dealers will inspect and replace damaged parts for free.
What should I do if my 2006-2014 Turtle Top Odyssey Xl, Odyssey Lt, Odyssey, Terra Transport, or Vanterra is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific vehicle is included in recall 16V009. If it is, contact a Turtle Top dealer to schedule the wheelchair lift inspection. Reference recall number 16V009 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Turtle Top dealers will inspect the lift link arms and platform for damage. Any damaged parts will be replaced free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 16V009?
The safety risk is lift platform separation when the vehicle doors are opened. In recall 16V009, displaced bearings can let the stowed wheelchair lift platform move too much, leading to platform mounting failure and increasing injury risk for the lift operator.
What if I bought my Turtle Top vehicle used?
The free recall repair still applies. A used vehicle owner remains eligible for the no-cost dealer inspection and part replacement under recall 16V009. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific Odyssey Xl, Odyssey Lt, Odyssey, Terra Transport, or Vanterra is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V009000 |
|---|---|
| Turtle Top customer service | 1-574-831-4340 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V009 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V009000 |
Source documents
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 →