Vehicle recall 14V302000 · May 28, 2014

2014 Champion Bus Defender

When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle, making the seat belt difficult to unlatch.

Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.

Summary: Champion Bus, Inc. (Champion) is recalling certain model year 2014 Defender shuttle buses built on Freightliner M2 chassis equipped with IMMI-brand L9 seat belt buckles. When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle, making the seat belt difficult to unlatch. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
Consequence: If the latch plate remains partially engaged after the button is pressed, egress from the vehicle could be hindered which would increase the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.
Remedy: Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA), manufacturer of the Freightliner chassis, has notified owners, and DTNA dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt buckle, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on May 27, 2014. Owners may contact Champion Bus at 1-810-724-6474 or DTNA at 1-800-385-4357.
Notes: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Recall details

NHTSA campaign: 14V302000
Reported to NHTSA: May 28, 2014
Filed by: Champion Bus, Inc.
Owner notification: January 21, 2014
Vehicles potentially affected: 25
Initiated by: the manufacturer
Components: Seat belts

Recall 14V302000 on nhtsa.gov, with the manufacturer’s documents

Vehicles covered

As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.

Champion Bus Defender (2014): 2014

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