NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation PE06003

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI RECEIVED A COMPLAINT FROM A SCHOOL BUS FLEET ALLEGING CRACKS HAD DEVELOPED ON TWO OF THEIR WHEELCHAIR LIFT'S VERTICAL ARMS.THE LIFTS ARE USED TO RAISE WHEELCHAIRS FROM THE STREET LEVEL TO ALLOW ENTRY INTO THE SCHOOL BUS.ODI CONDUCTED SECONDARY DISCUSSIONS WITH RICON AND ALSO DISCUSSED THE MATTER WITH OTHER FLEETS.ON JANUARY 23, 2006, RICON INITIATED A SAFETY RECALL.RICON WILL NOTIFY ALL OWNERS AND REPLACE ALL THE VERTICAL ARMS ON WHEELCHAIR LIFTS PRODUCED BETWEEN JUNE 12, 2005 AND JULY 1, 2005. RICON DETERMINED THAT THE DEFECT WAS THE RESULT OF WELDS THAT DID NOT RECEIVE FULL PENETRATION.THIS WAS DUE TO A SOFTWARE ERROR ON THE NEWLY INSTALLEDROBOTIC WELDER.THE RECALL ACTION TAKEN BY RICON RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.