1998 Orion VI: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2001-01-29 (January 29, 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: ORION WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO INSPECT THEIR BUSES FOR CERTAIN EQUALIZERS BY THE DATE CODE. THE AFFECTED EQUALIZERS WILL BE REPLACED BY VANNER. 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: 2003-03-27 (March 27, 2003)

CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." THE HANDLE PULL FORCE EXCEEDS THE 89N FORCE TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY WINDOW. ADDITIONAL FORCE IS REQUIRED TO RELEASE THE WINDOW.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY OPENING THE EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOW, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE WINDOWS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 1, 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 ORION AT 1-800-492-2116.

Reported: 2004-03-23 (March 23, 2004)

ON CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES ON THE L10G ENGINES, THE ECM DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DETECT A THROTTLE FAIL-SAFE ENGINE SHUTDOWN COMMAND. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNANTICIPATED, UNCOMMANDED OPEN THROTTLE CONDITION WITHOUT WARNING.

Consequence: IF THIS EVENT OCCURS, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WILL NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE ENGINE SPEED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: CUMMINS WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE ECM. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-343-7357 OR ORION AT 1-800-658-2871.

Reported: 2005-02-01 (February 1, 2005)

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 50 ENGINES, THE TURBOCHARGER CAN FAIL ALLOWING LUBRICATING OIL TO ENTER THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT THE TURBOCHARGER FAILS, A FIRE MAY OCCUR IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMAGE OR INJURIES.

Remedy: DETROIT DIESEL IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE ENGINE AND INSTALL AN EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN EXHAUST OR ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AT 313-592-5791 OR ORION AT 905-403-7832.

Reported: 2010-11-02 (November 2, 2010)

DAIMLER BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1995 THROUGH 2000 TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1996 THROUGH DECEMBER 2000. THESE BUSES ARE CONFIGURED WITH A TAPPED FITTING FOR THE HYDRAULIC WHEELCHAIR RAMP. IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CONNECTED TO THE HYDRAULIC PUMP IS A FITTING WITH AN ADAPTER FOR THE WHEELCHAIR RAMP OPERATION. THE FITTING CAN CRACK AND CAUSE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Consequence: HYDRAULIC FLUIDS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAN BE IGNITED BY THE HOT TURBOCHARGER AND CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE.

Remedy: BUS OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON 3, DECEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER BUSES AT 1-800-716-7566.

Reported: 1998-07-20 (July 20, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES BUILT WITH ZF FRONT AXLES EQUIPPED WITH LUCAS DISC BRAKES. THE BRAKE LEVER CONNECTING THE BRAKE CHAMBER PUSHROD TO THE DISC BRAKE ACTUATOR CAN CONTACT THE AIR BAG SUPPORT GUSSET DURING APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES AND BECOME JAMMED AND WILL NOT RELEASE THE BRAKE WHEN THE DRIVER REMOVES THEIR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Consequence: SINCE THIS IS A STEERING AXLE, UNWANTED APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO TURN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCKED WHEEL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REWORK THE BRAKE LEVERS ON THE SUBJECT BUSES.

Reported: 1998-07-31 (July 31, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SUNSOURCE/FAUVER TANDEM HYDRAULIC PUMPS. THE HYDRAULIC PISTON PUMP IS DRIVEN BY THE ENGINE AND A SHAFT OUT OF THE BACK OF THE PUMP PROVIDING POWER TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP. THE SHAFTS ARE CONNECTED TOGETHER WITH A COUPLING. THIS COUPLING IS FITTED WITH TWO RETAINER CLIPS WHICH KEEPS IT CENTERED BETWEEN THE TWO PUMPS. THESE BUSES WERE SHIPPED MISSING THE COUPLING RETAINER CLIPS.

Consequence: EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE COUPLING CAN DISENGAGE THE TWO PUMP SHAFTS, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER STEERING.

Remedy: DEALERS ARE INSPECTING AND RETROFITTING THE COUPLINGS ON THESE PUMPS.

Reported: 1998-09-21 (September 21, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH WHEEL CHAIR BARRIERS. THE WHEEL CHAIR BARRIERS ARE ATTACHED TO THE FLOOR STRUCTURE WITH A BOLT THREADED INTO THE FLOOR STRUCTURE. IN THE CASE OF A FRONTAL CRASH, WITH THE WHEEL CHAIR POSITION OCCUPIED, THE BOLT THREADS COULD STRIP ALLOWING MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL CHAIR BARRIER.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL CHAIR WHICH COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY, OR DEATH, TO THE WHEEL CHAIR OCCUPANT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING WHEEL CHAIR BARRIER LEG MOUNTING BOLTS WITH NEW BOLTS, NUTS AND WASHERS.