- The problem
- Champion bus is recalling 36 model year 2004, 2005, and 2007 defender and model year 2005-2006 m1000 buses built between april 12, 2004 and september 18, 2006. Certain hydraulic brake lines may contact the transmission dipstick tube as the engine rocks.
- The risk
- Continued contact between the brake line and the dipstick tube could cause a brake fluid leak and reduce brake performance, potentially resulting in a crash without warning.
- The fix
- Daimler trucks is handling the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Please see 09v-114. Daimler trucks will correct the chassis if found to be defective. This service will be performed for you free of charge. Owners may contact daimler trucks at 1-800-547-0712.
Vehicle safety record
2005 Champion Defender Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 2005 Champion Defender have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in July 2009 for the service brakes, hydraulic.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical Defender year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
2005 Champion Defender recalls 4
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
- Champion bus is recalling 503 my 2005-2007 challenger, crusader, defender, my 2005-2006 corporal, my 2006 cts-re, and my 2007 cts-fe and ic defender transit buses equipped with a ricon platform style wheelchair lift. This lift fails to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, "Platform lift systems for motor vehicles." The anti-stow interlock may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user. The pressure sensing switch that detects the presence of weight on the platform was not adjusted to the necessary sensitivity level. The lift could stow even though someone or something is still on the lift.
- The risk
- A lift occupant can be injured should the lift begin to stow unintentionally.
- The fix
- Champion bus is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lift free of charge (please see 07e097). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or champion bus at 1-800-331-5761.
- The problem
- Champion bus is recalling 503 my 2005-2008 defender, challenger, cts-re, cts-fe and crusader buses equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, "Platform lift installations in motor vehicles." The threshold warning system may not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user in a certain spot within the defined threshold area.
- The risk
- The user of the lift could be injured should the lift move unintentionally.
- The fix
- Champion bus is working with ricon to correct the wheelchair lifts free of charge (please see 07e095). Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or champion bus at 1-937-596-6849.
- The problem
- On certain transit buses equipped with ricon s and k series platform style wheelchair lifts, the vertical support arms for the lifts were improperly welded allowing the lift to stow improperly.
- The risk
- In the event this condition occurs during passenger operations it may not be possible to close the lift door causing the vehicle interlocks to remain engaged preventing movement of the vehicle or the ability to load or unload passengers with disabilities from the vehicle.
- The fix
- Champion is working with ricon to remedy these buses. The two lift arms will be replaced free of charge. Owners may contact ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or champion at 1-810-724-6474.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 2005 Champion Defender 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 Defender: every year compared
All Defender yearsQuestions about the 2005 Champion Defender
Does the 2005 Champion Defender have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 2005 Champion Defender: service brakes, hydraulic (July 2009); equipment adaptive / mobility (September 2008); equipment adaptive / mobility (April 2008); equipment adaptive / mobility (April 2006). 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 2005 Champion Defender had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 2005 Champion Defender a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 45 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Champion Defender 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 2005 Champion Defender 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