1999 New Flyer C40LF: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2000-09-15 (September 15, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ABS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE REAR BRAKE RELEASE TIME CAN EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS.

Consequence: A SLOW BRAKE RELEASE CAN CAUSE PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: THE REPAIR WILL INVOLVE INSTALLING A QUICK RELEASE VALVE OR INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE REAR BRAKE CONTROL LINE.

Reported: 2001-04-30 (April 30, 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: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUSES FOR CERTAIN EQUALIZERS BY THE DATE CODE. THE AFFECTED EQUALIZERS WILL BE REPLACED BY VANNER. NEW FLYER IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. 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 OR NEW FLYER AT 1-204-982-8413.

Reported: 2001-08-22 (August 22, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES. THE CLAMP NUTS FOR THE CENTER LINK TIE RODS MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED.

Consequence: INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED CLAMP NUTS COULD LEAD TO THE TIE RODS SEPARATING FROM THE CENTER LINK POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: NEW FLYER WILL WILL INSPECT THE TIE ROD END CLAMP LOCK NUTS TO ENSURE THAT THE NUTS ARE PROPERLY TIGHTENED. ANY DAMAGED TIE RODS WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 17, 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 NEW FLYER AT 1-204-982-8181.

Reported: 2002-02-14 (February 14, 2002)

ON CERTAIN LOW FLOOR 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. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 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 VAPOR CORPORATION AT 847-967-8300 OR NEW FLYER AT 1-204-224-1251.

Reported: 2002-05-22 (May 22, 2002)

ON CERTAIN LOW FLOOR BUSES, THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED.

Consequence: THE HOSE CAN LEAK, CREATING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE FIRE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOSE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 1, 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 NEW FLYER AT 1-204-228-8984.

Reported: 2002-07-01 (July 1, 2002)

ON CERTAIN LOW FLOOR TRANSIT BUSES, THE CUSTOM WHEEL PAINT THICKNESS WAS OUT OF SPECIFICATION AND THE WHEEL PAINT TYPE CHANGES FROM A GLASS STATE TO A RUBBER STATE AROUND THE BRAKE TEMPERATURES.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF WHEEL NUT TORQUE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: NEW FLYER DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE WHEELS, WHEEL STUDS, AND MODIFY THE FRONT AIR BRAKE CIRCUIT TO REDUCE THE REAR WHEEL BRAKE TEMPERATURE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 30, 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 NEW FLYER AT 1-204-224-6351.

Reported: 2005-02-04 (February 4, 2005)

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED WITH DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 50 ENGINES, THE TURBOCHARGER COMPRESSOR WHEEL CAN BREAK, RESULTING IN SHAFT IMBALANCE AND LUBRICATING OIL PASSES INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURIES.

Remedy: DETROIT DIESEL IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND REPROGRAM THE EMC CALIBRATION FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL AT 313-592-3708 OR NEW FLYER AT 204-982-8400.

Reported: 2007-02-23 (February 23, 2007)

CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE FLASHING DECELERATION LAMPS WERE AN OPTIONAL ITEM FOR SOME OF THESE BUSES.

Consequence: THE STANDARD REQUIRES THAT THE DECELERATION LAMP IS A SOLID LIGHT RATHER THAN A FLASHING LIGHT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REWIRE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO REMOVE THE FLASHING FUNCTION OR INSTALL A NEW PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER (PLC) WHICH WILL MAKE THE LAMPS BURN STEADY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 5, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NEW FLYER AT 204-934-4874.

Reported: 2007-06-11 (June 11, 2007)

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES, THE U-JOINT ASSEMBLIES HAVE INADEQUATE SPLINE ENGAGEMENT ON ONE OF THE TWO END YOKES.

Consequence: EXCESSIVE PLAY IN THE STEERING SYSTEM COULD DEVELOP AND, IF NOT CORRECTED, CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy: THE U-JOINT ASSEMBLY WILL BE INSPECTED AND REPLACED IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 10, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NEW FLYER AT 1-204-934-4874.