1998 Gillig LOW FLOOR: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2000-05-18 (May 18, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LOW FLOOR TRANSIT BUSES. THESE VEHICLES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE REFLEX REFLECTORS ON THE SIDE, FRONT (AMBER) AND REAR(RED) POSITIONS ARE MISSING.

Consequence: THIS IS A POTENTIAL ROAD HAZARD AT NIGHT.

Remedy: THE CORRECT REFLEX REFLECTORS WILL BE INSTALLED.

Reported: 2001-03-07 (March 7, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH VANNER 60 SERIES BATTERY EQUALIZERS. THE EQUALIZER COULD FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY AND CAUSE MALFUNCTION OF THE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM.

Consequence: WITHOUT FUSING, THE EQUALIZER MAY MELT, BURN, OR SMOKE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE OR A SMOKE FILLED BUS, THUS NECESSITATING A PASSENGER EVACUATION OF THE BUS. THE FAILURE MODE CAN CAUSE OPERATOR DISTRACTION, AND/OR POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: VANNER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO INSPECT THEIR BUSES FOR CERTAIN EQUALIZERS BY THE DATE CODE. THE AFFECTED EQUALIZERS WILL BE REPLACED. VANNER IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN AND WAS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VANNER AT 1-800-227-6937.

Reported: 2002-03-21 (March 21, 2002)

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ADHESIVELY BONDED ALUMINUM BUS DOOR PANELS, DUE TO AN IMPERFECT BONDING OF THE DOOR PANEL SKIN TO THE PANEL FRAME, ENVIRONMENTAL MOISTURE MAY INFILTRATE REGIONS OF IMPERFECT BONDING AND CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE FRAME AND DOOR PANEL.

Consequence: UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, IF THE PANEL IS SEPARATING OR HAS SEPARATED, A PASSENGER COULD FALL FROM THE BUS ONTO THE ROADWAY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: VAPOR WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS TO HAVE THEIR BUSES INSPECTED AND WILL INSTALL MECHANICAL FASTENERS TO ATTACH THE SKINS TO THE FRAME ELEMENTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VAPOR CORPORATION AT 847-967-8300 OR VAPOR AT 1510-785-1500.

Reported: 2002-03-18 (March 18, 2002)

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH VANNER 60 SERIES BATTERY EQUALIZERS, THE EQUALIZER COULD FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY AND CAUSE MALFUNCTION OF THE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM.

Consequence: WITHOUT FUSING, THE EQUALIZER MAY MELT, BURN, OR SMOKE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE OR A SMOKE FILLED BUS, THUS NECESSITATING A PASSENGER EVACUATION OF THE BUS. THE FAILURE MODE CAN CAUSE OPERATOR DISTRACTION, AND/OR POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUSES FOR CERTAIN EQUALIZERS BY THE DATE CODE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT GILLIG AT 1-510-785-1500 OR VANNER AT 1-800-227-6937.

Reported: 2002-07-25 (July 25, 2002)

ON CERTAIN LOW FLOOR 29, 35, AND 40 FOOT BUSES, THE STEERING GEAR INPUT SHAFT BOLT INSTALLED WAS A 3/8" DIAMETER COARSE THREAD GRADE 8 FASTENER INSTEAD OF THE REQUIRED 7/16" DIAMETER FINE THREAD GRADE 8 FASTENER.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH OR SOME OTHER EXTRAORDINARY SHOCK LOAD ON THE STEERING, A LOSS OF STEERING COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SUSPECT FASTENER WITH THE CORRECT FASTENER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN AUGUST 6, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT GILLIG AT 1-510-785-1500.

Reported: 2002-12-06 (December 6, 2002)

ON CERTAIN LOW FLOOR 29', 35' AND 40' BUSES, THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT INSULATION COULD FATIGUE AND SAG, POTENTIALLY TOUCHING THE TURBOCHARGER.

Consequence: THIS COULD POTENTIALLY LEAD TO A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: GILLIG IS PROVIDING THE OWNERS WITH NEW INSULATION AND INSTALLATION PROCEDURES. THE NEW INSULATION IS TO BE INSTALLED ON THE INSIDE SIDE SURFACE OF THE ACCESS HATCH AND A MECHANICAL RETAINING STRIP TO SUPPORT THE ADJACENT INSULATION. THE RETAINING STRIP IS ATTACHED WITH NUTS AND BOLTS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 19, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT GILLIG AT 1-800-735-1500.

Reported: 2003-02-21 (February 21, 2003)

ON CERTAIN 1998-2002 35' AND 40' BUSES AND 1999-2002 29' BUSES, THE INSTALLATION OF THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT USES BOLTS ALONG THE EDGE OF THE HOUSING FOR ATTACHMENT. ONE SPECIFIC BOLT CAN BE TOO CLOSE TO THE MAIN POWER CABLE ATTACHMENT. POSITIONAL TOLERANCE OR THE USE OF TOO LONG A BOLT COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT.

Consequence: AN ELECTRICAL SHORT COULD LEAD TO COMPONENT FAILURE OR POTENTIALLY A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: CUSTOMERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED TO CUT THE EXCESS LENGTH OF THE AIR CONDITIONER UNIT MOUNTING BOLT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 28, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT GILLIG 1-800-735-1500.

Reported: 2003-10-14 (October 14, 2003)

INCORRECT ASSEMBLY OF ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND SECUREMENT IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT COULD COME LOOSE.

Consequence: INCORRECT ASSEMBLY COULD CAUSE ELECTRICAL SHORTS, ARCING, AND FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT ENGINE COMPARTMENT WIRING FOR CORRECT CABLE ASSEMBLY, FASTNER TORQUE, AND CORRECT WIRE PROTECTION. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN OCTOBER 29, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT GILLIG AT 510-785-1500.

Reported: 2004-10-07 (October 7, 2004)

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 40 ENGINES, THE TURBOCHARGER CAN FAIL ALLOWING LUBRICATING OIL TO SPILL ONTO THE ENGINE.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TURBOCHARGER TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. DETROIT DIESEL IS CONDUCTING OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. GILLIG ISSUED A RENOTIFICATION LETTER TO OWNERS ON FEBRUARY 27, 2007. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DETROIT DETROIT DIESEL AT 313-5923708 OR GILLIG AT 510-785-1500.

Reported: 2017-02-24 (February 24, 2017)

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain model year 1997-2017 Low Floor transit buses. The front turn signals installed on standard profile (non-BRT) buses may not be sufficiently visible to other drivers or pedestrians. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence: The reduced visibility of the turn signals may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will install turn signals that have increased visibility. The recall began June 7, 2019. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-510-264-5073 or 1-800-735-1500.