The problem
Certain buses built on ford e-series chassis and equipped with wheelchair lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "Lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." The brake lights will not function if the wheelchair lift enable switch is turned on while the vehicle is in gear.
The risk
If the brake lights fail to come on, there will be no rear brake lights to indicate to following vehicles that the vehicle is decelerating, which could result in a crash.
The fix
Dealers will repair the main electrical circuit board. Owner notification began may 3, 2004. 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 starcraft at 1-800-348-7440, ext. 312.
Contacts
Starcraft recall no. 040331. Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized Starcraft dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 04V161000.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.