2012 Champion M1235 Recall: Exterior Lighting
NHTSA campaign 12V039000 · Exterior Lighting · filed Feb 3, 2012 · verified Jul 30, 2026
The defect
CHAMPION BUS (CHAMPION) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 ABC-M1235 TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 21, 2011, THROUGH NOVEMBER 18, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH A FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS. INACURATE FAULT DETECTION VALUES IN THE BULKHEAD MOUDLE SOFTWARE MAY CAUSE THE SIDE MARKER/DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS TO STOP FUNCTIONING AFTER A FEW MINUTES OF VEHICLE OPERATION. LIGHTS WILL RESUME OPERATION AFTER THE VEHICLE IS SHUT DOWN AND RESTARTED.
The risk
FAILURE OF THE SIDE MARKER/DIRECTIONAL LIGHTS TO ILLUMINATE WILL RESULT IN DECREASED VISIBILITY OF THE VEHICLE AND/OR MISINFORM OTHER DRIVERS AS TO THE INTENDED DIRECTION OF TRAVEL, EITHER OF WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →The fix — what to do
FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY THE OWNERS AND PERFORM REPAIRS AT ITS AUTHORIZED FACILITIES, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 2, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CHAMPION AT 1-810-724-6474.
OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .
Affected vehicles
Related recalls
More Champion M1235 recalls
- 2012–2014 Champion American Crusader and 14 other models — Test reports indicate that the triangle warning signs…
- 2011–2012 Champion M1235 — Exterior Lighting
- 2011 Champion CTS and 1 other model — Engine and Engine Cooling
- 2007–2008 Champion M1235 and 1 other model — Steering
- 2008 Champion 3035RE and 1 other model — Steering
Other campaigns involving Champion vehicles
- 2023–2024 Champion Challenger and 9 other models — Unsecured brake lines may be damaged by contact with the…
- 2019 Champion Challenger and 6 other models — Due to a manufacturing issue, the roof hatch external…
- 2017–2018 Champion Challenger and 4 other models — When the back seat cushion is rotated from the stowed…
Source: NHTSA recall database, campaign 12V039000. Data last verified Jul 30, 2026.