2010 Nova Bus NOVA LFS: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2010-03-05 (March 5, 2010)

NOVA BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 LFS 40 FOOT TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ENGINES. IMPROPER FUEL UNIT WAS INSTALLED.

Consequence: THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A CONSEQUENCE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.

Remedy: NOVA BUS IS WORKING WITH CUMMINS AND CUMMINS IS HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-343-7357.

Reported: 2010-04-06 (April 6, 2010)

NOVA BUS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 LFS BUSES EQUIPPED WITH MODINE ROOF MOUNTED RADIATOR. THE WRONG TYPE OF O-RING WAS INSTALLED AT THE LOCATIONS BY THE RADIATOR MANUFACTURER, MODINE. THE O-RINGS MUST BE VITON TYPE O-RINGS.

Consequence: DETERIORATION OF THESE O-RINGS MAY OCCUR AND LEAKING OR SEEPAGE OF HYDRAULIC OIL.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL VITON O-RINGS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NOVA BUS AT 450-472-6410.

Reported: 2010-05-20 (May 20, 2010)

NOVA BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 NOVA LFS 40 FT AND MODEL YEAR 2010 NOVA LFS 60 FT T-DRIVE TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 27, 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 11, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISL OR ISB ENGINES. THE BOLTS ON THE ENGINE CRADLE WERE NOT TORQUED ACCORDING TO APPROPRIATE SPECIFICATIONS.

Consequence: THE BOLTS CAN BE WORN PREMATURELY AND BREAK OFF, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: NOVA BUS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NOVA BUS AT 1-450-472-6410.

Reported: 2010-07-12 (July 12, 2010)

NOVA BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ATC (AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL) SYSTEM AND V-BEA MULTIPLEXING SYSTEM MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2, 2007 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010. THE ATC SYSTEM MAY INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATE WHENEVER THE PARKING BRAKE OR THE BRAKE INTERLOCK IS APPLIED, SINCE THE VEHICLE'S MULTIPLEX PROGRAM DID NOT CORRECTLY SEND THE PARKING BRAKE OR INTERLOCK SIGNAL TO THE ATC SYSTEM. THE ATC SYSTEM COULD MISINTERPRET THIS SITUATION AS WHEEL SPIN, SUBSEQUENTLY APPLYING AND RELEASING THE APPLIED BRAKES. THE VEHICLE COULD THEN MOVE UNEXPECTEDLY.

Consequence: THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE INADVERTENTLY EVEN WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SYSTEM AND THE ENGINE'S ECU FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NOVA BUS AT 450-472-6410.

Reported: 2011-11-01 (November 1, 2011)

NOVA BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 LFS BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 1, 2010, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH A CUMMINS ISB, ISX, ISC OR ISL DIESEL ENGINE. THE V-BAND CLAMP ASSEMBLY, PART NUMBERS Q187684, Q187685, AND Q187686, USED TO CONNECT THE INLET AND OUTLET CONE SECTIONS TO THE DIESEL OXIDATION CATALYST (DOC)/DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER (DPF) INCLUDE A T-BOLT WHICH CAN FRACTURE AND FAIL WHEN SUBJECTED TO STRESS OR LOAD. A FRACTURE OR FAILURE OF THE T-BOLT MAY CAUSE THE CLAMP TO LOOSEN AND THE INLET OR OUTLET SECTIONS ATTACHED TO THE DOC/DPF HOUSING TO DISCONNECT.

Consequence: IF THE INLET OR OUTLET SECTIONS DISCONNECT, HOT EXHAUST GASES CAN VENT PRIOR TO EXITING THE TAILPIPE, CREATING THE RISK OF COMBUSTION AND A FIRE. IF BOTH CLAMPS FAIL, THERE IS A RISK IN SOME APPLICATIONS THAT THE DOC/DPF HOUSING MAY DETACH COMPLETELY, CREATING A ROAD HAZARD.

Remedy: NOVA BUS IS WORKING WITH CUMMINS TO IDENTIFY AND NOTIFY OWNERS OF THE RECALL CAMPAIGN. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY AUTHORIZED CUMMINS DEALERS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN OCTOBER 10, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-812-377-5000.

Reported: 2012-11-23 (November 23, 2012)

Nova Bus is recalling certain model year 2010 LFS transit buses manufactured June 10, 2010, through November 11, 2010; and equipped with flush mounted windows and Ricon 3-Minute Urban Transit Bus egress window sets. The composition of the material used to cast the handles is incorrect resulting in embrittlement of the handle and a reduction in material strength. The handle(s) on the emergency egress passenger windows may break before the window latch is released.

Consequence: In the event the egress window fails during an emergency situation, passengers may be trapped in the bus placing them at risk of injury.

Remedy: Nova Bus will notify owners, and dealers will replace the egress handles free of charge. Ricon will supply the replacement handles. The recall began on December 10, 2012. Owners may contact Nova Bus at 1-877-999-8808.

Reported: 2013-12-19 (December 19, 2013)

Nova Bus is recalling certain 2009-2012 model year LFS and LFS HEV transit buses equipped with Sure Power DC-DC converters containing a particular epoxy sealing, aka 'potting', compound. The specific potting compound used in the subject products for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.

Consequence: Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Nova Bus will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace the converters, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2014. Owners may contact Nova Bus at 1-450-472-6410. Nova Bus's numbers for this recall are CR3030, CR3031, CR3032, CR3033 and CR3034 (depending on the converter's part number and location of in the vehicle).

Reported: 2014-06-30 (June 30, 2014)

Nova Bus is recalling certain model year 2004 and 2006-2013 LFS transit buses. Due to a programming error in the vehicle control unit, the ABS malfunction light may not illuminate if the ABS control unit loses power. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Consequence: If the ABS malfunction light does not illuminate if the ABS control unit loses power, the driver would not be aware that the ABS is not functional and that the brakes may unexpectedly lock up under certain conditions when the brakes are applied, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Nova Bus will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in late August 2014. Owners may contact Nova Bus customer service at 1-450-472-6410. Nova Bus' number for this recall is CR3200.

Reported: 2014-06-30 (June 30, 2014)

Nova Bus is recalling certain model year 2010-2014 LFS transit buses manufactured June 2010 to June 2014. In the affected vehicles, the terminal on the postive alternator cable may fracture causing the cable to arc to other components.

Consequence: Arcing of the alternator cable may result in an engine compartment fire.

Remedy: Nova Bus will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the terminal and replace it if it is damaged, free of charge. The recall began August 29, 2014. Owners may contact Nova Bus customer service at 1-450-472-6410. Nova Bus' number for this recall is CR3201.

Reported: 2015-02-06 (February 6, 2015)

Nova Bus (Nova) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 LFS transit buses manufactured January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2010 with ZFAV132 rear axles. The affected vehicles may have been produced with rear axle half shafts that received an inadequate surface treatment which may result in axle shaft failure.

Consequence: If the axle half shaft fails, the bus would be disabled, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Nova has notified the affected owners, and all affected buses have been reapired, free of charge. Owners may contact Nova customer service at 1-450-472-6410. Nova's number for this recall is BS1555.

Reported: 2015-11-05 (November 5, 2015)

Nova Bus (Nova) is recalling certain model year 2010-2015 Nova LFS and 2013-2015 LFS Artic transit buses. The affected vehicles are equipped with an optical sensor for the passenger counter system whose location may result in a passenger's arm being pinched between the passenger counter housing and the door.

Consequence: A passenger could be injured if their arm is caught in the door.

Remedy: Nova will notify owners, and dealers will install a longer protective cover over the passenger counter system and add a warning label, free of charge. The recall began on November 23, 2015. Owners may contact Nova customer service at 1-800-350-6682. Nova's numbers for this recall are CR3492 and CR3493.