The 2008 Ford E-350 has 18 recalls, the most serious involving rear brake lines that can lose pressure, a driveshaft that can fracture and separate from the vehicle while driving, and a fuel tank that may lack protective brackets and leak in a severe crash.
On certain electronic news gathering units with an aftermarket rear anti-sway bar, damaged rear brake lines can cause sudden brake failure. On 138-inch wheelbase models, a cracked driveshaft slip yoke can worsen over time and drop the shaft onto the road without warning. Vehicles with school bus prep packages may be missing fuel tank protection brackets, leaving the tank vulnerable to fire in a hard crash. Paratransit vans with certain aftermarket air conditioning units have a fuse holder that can arc and catch fire, and vans with certain wheelchair lift pendant cables can develop a short circuit.
The remaining recalls all involve aftermarket wheelchair lift equipment. Lift platforms on certain Ricon models can crack, lose their bearings, or separate from the lift entirely. On other lifts, the platform can overrun the vehicle floor and tilt steeply enough to tip a wheelchair or cause a standing person to fall. Restraint belts on certain public-use lifts may allow the platform to move before the belt is properly latched, and roll stop latches on some Braun lifts can bend or misalign, allowing a wheelchair to roll off the platform.
At a glance
What can fail
The wheelchair lift's side platform can crack. The folding link arms may have oversized pivot holes, allowing bearings to shift out of position.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the link arms and platform for damage or displaced bearings. Damaged parts will be replaced at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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At a glance
What can fail
The folding link arms on certain wheelchair lifts have pivot holes that are oversized, allowing bearings to shift out of position and potentially cause lift failure.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect link arms for damage and displaced bearings, inspect the platform for cracks, and replace any damaged parts at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wheelchair lift platform side plate may crack. The folding link arm pivot holes may be oversized, causing bearings to shift out of position.
What the fix does
Support bumpers will be installed on the platform. Any cracked platforms will be replaced at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Wheelchair lift link arms may have oversized pivot holes, causing bearings to shift out of position and affecting lift stability.
What the fix does
Ricon dealers will inspect link arms and platform for damage or displaced bearings, replacing any damaged parts at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The platform side plate on certain wheelchair lifts installed in these vehicles may develop cracks over time.
What the fix does
Ricon dealers will install reinforcing bumpers on the platform. Any already-cracked platforms will be replaced at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The roll stop latches on the wheelchair lift's outer barrier may bend or misalign over time with frequent use, potentially allowing the wheelchair to shift.
What the fix does
Braun Corporation replaced the faulty latches with new ones at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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.
At a glance
What can fail
The armored cable on certain wheelchair lifts may be positioned so it doesn't clear the lift mechanism, potentially causing interference.
What the fix does
Ricon will provide a supplemental cover kit and instructions at no cost to reposition or protect the cable.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The rear anti-sway bar mounting bolt threads may rub against the steel hydraulic brake line. This metal-to-metal contact can wear through the brake line and cause it to rupture, reducing brake pressure.
What the fix does
Dealers will repair the vehicles at no charge by addressing the anti-sway bar mounting to prevent brake line contact.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
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 restraint belt on the lift can appear latched without fully engaging the locking mechanism, allowing the lift to operate even though the belt is not secure.
What the fix does
Ricon will provide a warning decal and DVD training materials to ensure proper belt engagement before operating the lift.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wheelchair lift's control software has a problem. If you release the up button before the lift reaches its floor-level limit, the lift may keep rising and go past where it should stop.
What the fix does
RICON will send you an operation bulletin and training DVD to help you operate the lift correctly. A permanent software fix is being developed and will be installed free of charge at authorized RICON dealers.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The restraint belt on the lift can appear secured even when not fully latched, allowing the lift to operate with someone on the platform when it shouldn't.
What the fix does
Ricon will provide a warning decal and training video to ensure proper belt engagement before operating the lift.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wheelchair lift's up function has a software issue. If you release the up button before the lift reaches the floor level limit, the lift may continue rising past its normal stopping point.
What the fix does
Ricon will provide an operation bulletin and training DVD at no cost. A software fix is being developed and will be installed free by authorized dealers once available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The wheelchair lift's control software doesn't stop the upward motion properly. If you release the up button before the lift reaches floor level, it may continue rising past the safe stopping point.
What the fix does
Ricon will provide an instruction bulletin and training DVD on proper lift operation at no cost. A software fix is being developed and will be installed by authorized Ricon dealers for free.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The restraint belt on the wheelchair lift can appear latched without being fully engaged. This allows the lift to operate with someone on the platform even when the belt isn't properly secured.
What the fix does
Ricon will provide a warning decal and DVD training to help operators properly engage and latch the restraint belt before operating the lift.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Some 2008-2009 E-350 and 2009 E-450 cutaway vehicles with school bus prep packages may be missing required fuel tank protection brackets, leaving the fuel system unprotected.
What the fix does
Dealers will check for proper bracket installation and install any missing brackets at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The drive shaft slip yoke may contain manufacturing cracks that reduce its ability to handle stress, potentially causing performance issues below safe design standards.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the drive shaft and replace it at no cost if cracks are found.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
