- The problem
- On certain buses equipped with vapor bus connecting rods, when the connecting rod is subjected to certain load combinations and cumulative cycling, initiation and propagation of fatigue cracks are seen at the external thread roots. If the crack initiates and propagates through the cross section of the connecting rod, it may result in the bending or the connecting rod assembly and malfunction of the door actuation assembly.
- The risk
- If the crack propagates through the entire cross section of the connecting rod, the connecting rod may break and the associated door panel may be able to move freely in an uncontrolled manner, leaving passengers inside the bus unprotected by the door panel and possibly enabling a protruding door panel to strike persons or objects outside the bus.
- The fix
- Vapor bus is conducting this recall (please see 05e-030). All buses involved in this recall have been repaired.
Vehicle safety record
2000 Champion Contender Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2000 Champion Contender have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in September 2006 for the door.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical Contender year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2000 Champion Contender recalls 2
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- On certain buses equipped with cp traveling retractor lap (type 1) seat belts, the plastic cover housing the reserve end of the seat belt web can break. If the two halves of the cover completely separate, the connector portion of the belt will detach from the cover. Once detached, the connector rivet can separate from the connector frame causing the frame to become unusable.
- The risk
- This condition cannot occur during use, however, the belt will be unsuable and may result in an occupant seating position without a seat belt. In the event of a vehicle crash, an unbelted individual could be seriously injured or killed.
- The fix
- Amsafe will notify its customers and provide a plastic outer cover that snaps over the existing cover on units in the field and will replace broken seat belts free of charge. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact amsafe at 574-266-8330 or champion at 810-724-6474.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 2000 Champion Contender yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Champion Contender: every year compared
All Contender yearsQuestions about the 2000 Champion Contender
Does the 2000 Champion Contender have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2000 Champion Contender: door (September 2006); retractor (October 2002). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 2000 Champion Contender had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2000 Champion Contender a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 35 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Champion Contender year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
What should I do if my 2000 Champion Contender has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data