The 2005 Ford E-350 has 5 recalls, the most serious involving a fire risk in certain paratransit vans where a fuse holder inside the air conditioning evaporator unit can arc, melt, and produce flames and smoke inside the vehicle.
The remaining four recalls all involve wheelchair lift equipment on these paratransit and mobility conversion vans. Three of them center on platform-style Ricon wheelchair lifts installed by different upfitters: in some cases the lift can move while a wheelchair user is still on it, and in others the anti-stow interlock fails to detect an occupant, allowing the platform to begin folding away with a person on board. In both scenarios, a lift user can be thrown off or caught by the moving platform. The fourth lift recall covers Braun NCL-2 and NVL-2 lifts on vans that have seen heavy use over time, where the roll stop latch on the outer barrier of the lift can become bent or misaligned, leaving the barrier unable to hold a wheelchair securely at the platform edge and allowing it to roll over or past the stop.
At a glance
What can fail
The roll stop latches on the wheelchair lift's outer barrier may become bent or misaligned over time with frequent use, potentially affecting lift operation.
What the fix does
Cummings Mobility replaced the affected lift parts with new ones at no cost to owners.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The fuse in the air conditioning evaporator unit may loosen from vibration, heat, or age, causing high electrical resistance and arcing.
What the fix does
Braun or Carrier will replace the fuse holder assembly at no cost. Contact Carrier at 1-800-793-4741 or Braun at 1-800-843-5438.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wheelchair lift's threshold warning system may fail to detect a wheelchair or mobility aid user in certain positions within the threshold area, not meeting federal safety standards.
What the fix does
The wheelchair lift will be corrected at no charge. Contact Ricon at 1-818-267-3000 to schedule service.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wheelchair lift's safety sensor may not detect when a wheelchair or mobility device is on the platform. The pressure-sensing switch was not set to the right sensitivity level, so the lift could fold up even with a user still on it.
What the fix does
Ricon will adjust the pressure-sensing switch to the correct sensitivity level at no cost to correct the lift.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wheelchair lift's warning system may fail to detect a wheelchair or mobility device positioned in certain areas within the threshold zone.
What the fix does
The wheelchair lift will be corrected at no charge. Contact Ricon at 1-818-267-3000 or Leader Industries at 626-575-0880.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
