Recall 18V577 covers 4 2017-2018 American Heritage Trolley buses for lift input cam failure. Free repair at a franchised American Heritage dealer once available.
American Heritage is recalling 4 2017-2018 Trolley buses equipped with certain Ricon wheelchair lifts because the lift platform can travel above the vehicle floor. If that happens, a wheelchair user can tip inward toward the bus while exiting the lift, increasing injury risk; the American Heritage dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The wheelchair lift on the 2017-2018 American Heritage Trolley is the powered platform that raises a passenger from the ground to the bus floor. A positioning input cam inside the Ricon lift tells the lift control system where the platform is during travel. That signal helps the cutoff switch stop the platform at floor height.
On the affected buses, the positioning input cam can fail while the lift is in use. If the lift operator keeps pressing the up button with the platform occupied, the cutoff switch is disabled. The platform can then travel higher than the bus floor instead of stopping level with it.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem happens during lift operation, so the operator and passenger will not get a separate advance signal that the cam is about to stop working.
Who's affected?
Covers the 2017 and 2018 Trolley model years, with the same adaptive/mobility equipment component listed for each year.
| 2017 American Heritage Trolley | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2018 American Heritage Trolley | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 4 |
| 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?
If the wheelchair platform stops above the vehicle floor, the wheelchair user can tip inward toward the vehicle while exiting the lift, increasing injury risk. Have operators watch platform position before unloading and schedule the recall work promptly if the VIN is included. Repair will be free at any franchised American Heritage dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017-2018 American Heritage Trolley is included in this recall.
- Watch for the American Heritage owner notice if you have not received it.
- Contact a franchised American Heritage dealer to ask when the free input-cam replacement is available for your bus.
- Reference recall number 18V577 when you call, and explain that the wheelchair lift platform can travel above the vehicle floor height.
- Keep the wheelchair lift out of passenger service until American Heritage or the dealer gives repair instructions.
What happens at the repair
Once the dealer repair is available, an American Heritage technician will replace the defective input cams in the Ricon S-Series or K-Series Titanium wheelchair lift. The repair will be free under the recall, with parts and labor covered. American Heritage has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for this repair. Keep repair invoices and related paperwork, then ask customer service how to submit documentation under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 30, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 4, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| September 5, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| September 7, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| September 7, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V577?
Recall 18V577 covers 4 2017-2018 American Heritage Trolley buses equipped with certain Ricon S-Series and K-Series Titanium wheelchair lifts. The lift positioning input cam can fail while the lift is in use, letting the platform travel above the vehicle floor height.
What should I do if my 2017-2018 American Heritage Trolley is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V577. If it is, call American Trolley customer service at 1-800-255-6827 and ask for the Ricon dealer repair for the defective wheelchair-lift input cam. Reference recall number 18V577 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost to the owner. For recall 18V577, American Trolley will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will replace the defective wheelchair-lift input cams free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is an inward tip toward the vehicle when a wheelchair user exits the lift. If the platform stops above the vehicle floor, the uneven height increases the risk of injury. Until the repair is complete, treat any wheelchair-lift height problem as a service issue.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V577000 |
|---|---|
| American Heritage customer service | 1-800-255-6827 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V577 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V577000 |
Source documents
-
Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF) - Download Recall 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 →