Recall 17V698 affects 45 2015-2017 Phoenix Zeus 305 and Zeus 300 shuttle vans for wheel and tire load-rating defects. Free repair once Phoenix opens it.
Phoenix is recalling 45 2015-2017 Zeus 305 and Zeus 300 shuttle vans because a fully loaded vehicle can exceed axle and vehicle weight ratings. At maximum passenger capacity, the rear tires can fail and increase crash risk; the Phoenix dealer repair will be free once Phoenix opens the final remedy.
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What's wrong?
The tires and rims on the 2015-2017 Phoenix Zeus 305 and Zeus 300 shuttle vans are part of the load-carrying system. The tire load rating, wheel rating, axle rating, and total vehicle weight rating are supposed to match the weight the van carries, including passengers, equipment, and the electric vehicle battery.
On affected vans, the added battery weight and certain shuttle seating layouts leave too little load margin when the van is fully loaded. In that condition, the van can exceed the rated Gross Axle Weight Rating, which is the maximum weight an axle is designed to carry, and the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating, which is the maximum total weight for the van.
Owners and operators can watch for excessive or unusual tire wear. That wear is the warning sign Phoenix identified before a load-related tire or wheel problem becomes more serious.
Who's affected?
Scope spans Zeus 300 and Zeus 305 buses from 2015-2017, with tire and wheel hardware coverage for the affected vehicles.
| 2017 Phoenix Zeus 305 | wheel hardware |
|---|---|
| 2017 Phoenix Zeus 305 | tire |
| 2015 Phoenix Zeus 300 | wheel hardware |
| 2015 Phoenix Zeus 300 | tire |
| 2015 Phoenix Zeus 305 | wheel hardware |
| 2015 Phoenix Zeus 305 | tire |
| 2016 Phoenix Zeus 305 | wheel hardware |
| 2016 Phoenix Zeus 305 | tire |
| Units affected | 45 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
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?
At maximum passenger capacity, the rear tires are at risk of failure, which increases crash risk. Watch for excessive or unusual tire wear, and avoid loading the vehicle to capacity until a dealer inspects the wheels and tires. Repair will be free at any franchised Phoenix dealer once Phoenix opens it.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2017 Phoenix Zeus 305 or Zeus 300 is included in this recall.
- Contact Phoenix customer service at 1-909-987-0815 to confirm when the free wheel and tire replacement is open for your VIN.
- Ask Phoenix how to handle the vehicle until the final remedy is ready, especially if it carries passengers near full capacity.
- Avoid carrying a full passenger load until the repair is complete because the rear tires can fail when the van is loaded to maximum passenger capacity.
- Bring the recall notice if Phoenix has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 17V698 when you call.
What happens at the repair
Phoenix's interim repair path is the wheel and tire replacement described in the recall notice. Once the final dealer repair is available, a Phoenix technician will inspect the vehicle wheels and tires and replace all of them with wheels and tires that have a higher load rating. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. The notice says the recall began on December 27, 2017, but this section still treats the remedy as interim, so confirm availability with the dealer before service.
Timeline
| November 3, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 15, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| October 15, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| October 31, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 14, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V698?
Recall 17V698 covers 45 2015-2017 Phoenix Zeus 305 and Zeus 300 shuttle vans built on a Ford E-350 chassis. When loaded to maximum passenger capacity, the vans can exceed axle and vehicle weight ratings, which can cause rear tire failure and increase crash risk. Phoenix dealers inspect and replace the wheels and tires for free.
What should I do if my 2015-2017 Phoenix Zeus 305 or Zeus 300 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific shuttle van is included in recall 17V698. If it is, contact a franchised Phoenix dealer or Phoenix customer service at 1-909-987-0815 to arrange the wheel and tire inspection and replacement. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair at no cost to the owner, and Phoenix says dealers will inspect the van and replace all wheels and tires with higher-load-rated parts free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is rear tire failure when the shuttle van is loaded to maximum passenger capacity. Phoenix reported that the affected vans can exceed Gross Axle Weight Rating and Gross Vehicle Weight Rating limits, which increases crash risk. Confirm the VIN and arrange the free wheel and tire repair.
What if I bought my Phoenix Zeus shuttle van used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the vehicle, not the original owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Phoenix Zeus 305 or Zeus 300 is included, then reference recall 17V698 when you call the dealer or Phoenix customer service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V698000 |
|---|---|
| Phoenix customer service | 1-909-987-0815 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V698 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V698000 |
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 May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →