Owners filed 8 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling. It has been recalled 4 times.
What fails
Component
Reports
Crashes
Fires
Injuries
Engine and Engine Cooling
8
0
2
2
4 safety recalls
Part 573 reports
Electrical System13V457000
Filed Sep 19, 20134,061 vehiclesNorth American Bus Industries, Inc.
Defect. North American Bus Industries (NABI) is recalling certain model year 2000-2011 LFW, CLFW, BRT, 2007-2009 Blue Bird L4RE, and 2000-2009 Optima Opus transit buses equipped with Sure Power battery equalizers 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.
Risk. Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.
Remedy. NABI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the equalizers, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on January 27, 2014. Owners may contact NABI at 1-256-831-4296. NABI's recall number is 20136.
Steering › Column12V189000
Filed May 2, 201250 vehiclesNorth American Bus Industries, Inc.
Defect. NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES (NABI) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 OPTIMA OPUS29 AND OPUS34 MODEL TRANSIT BUSES, MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 8, 2007, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2009. THE PINCH BOLTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT MAY LOOSEN TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY MAY FALL OUT ALLOWING THE STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE.
Risk. SEPARATION OF THE STEERING SHAFT WILL RESULT IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy. NABI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPAIR VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 7, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NABI AT 1-256-831-4296.
Equipment09V495000
Filed Dec 29, 20092,370 vehiclesNorth American Bus Industries, Inc.
Defect. NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES, INC. (NABI) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2009 TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2002, AND SEPTEMBER 15, 2009, AND EQUIPPED WITH LUMINATOR HORIZON LED SIDE DESTINATION SIGNS. THE CONNECTOR BOARD CAN CORRODE DUE TO AN ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE UNDER THE CONNECTOR.
Risk. THE CORROSION COULD CAUSE AN ELECTRICAL SHORT THAT COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Remedy. NABI WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND LUMINATOR WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE LUMINATOR'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-054. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING JANUARY 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LUMINATOR AT 1-972-516-3033 OR NABI AT 1-256-831-4296.
Service Brakes, Air07V206000
Filed May 10, 200785 vehiclesNorth American Bus Industries, Inc.
Defect. ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH GRAHAM WHITE AIR DRYERS, THE AIR DRYER TIMER MODULES MAY ALLOW SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES OF MOISTURE TO ENTER AND AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM.
Risk. FAILURE OF THE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM DUE TO MOISTURE COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy. NABI, IN CONJUNCTION WITH GRAHAM-WHITE, WILL REPLACE THE AIR DRYER TIMER MODULE ON THE AFFECTED VEHICLES. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 31, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NABI AT 1-256-831-4296 OR GRAHAM-WHITE AT 540-387-5620.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 13, 20082,000 milesMT
WE PURCHASED A FLEET OF 8 25-PASSENGER BUSES FROM NABI, WHO BOUGHT OUR OPTIMA BUS. THEY RECEIVED THE BID BECAUSE THEY COULD GUARANTEE DELIVERY BY THE FIRST PART OF JULY. ON AUG. 30, THE FIRST BUSES STARTED COMING IN AND CONTINUED COMING IN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. 2 OF THE BUSES HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINES THAT BLEW UP ON THE WAY FROM THE FACTORY TO DELIVERY. MULTIPLE AND ONGOING PROBLEMS SIDELINED THE BUSES TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD NOT ACCEPT THEM OR OPERATE THEM. AFTER TECHNICIANS WORKED ON THE BUSES, WE ACCEPTED THEM BY THE END OF DECEMBER TO ENABLE THE COMPANY TO GET PAID. THROUGH THE MONTH OF JAN., WE CONTINUED TO FINE TUNE THE PROBLEMS. FINALLY, WE STARTED ROAD TESTING THEM ON FEB. 19. ON MARCH 21, WE HAD ONE CATCH FIRE AND NEARLY BURN TO THE GROUND. AFTER DISABLING THE COMPONENT THOUGHT TO BE THE CULPRIT, WE CONTINUED TO ROAD TEST THE BUSES. IN APRIL WE HAD ANOTHER FIRE IN A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE BUS. AGAIN ALL BUSES HAVE BEEN DEADLINED. IN ADDITION, THE NEW BUSES, ALL WITH LESS THAN 4,000 MILES, HAVE BEEN TOWED FROM THE OPEN ROAD 4 TIMES WHEN THEY HAVE FAILED. NABI HAS SENT 3 TECHNICIANS OUT AND THE BUSES CONTINUE TO FAIL. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 13, 20082,000 milesMT
WE PURCHASED A FLEET OF 8 25-PASSENGER BUSES FROM NABI, WHO BOUGHT OUR OPTIMA BUS. THEY RECEIVED THE BID BECAUSE THEY COULD GUARANTEE DELIVERY BY THE FIRST PART OF JULY. ON AUG. 30, THE FIRST BUSES STARTED COMING IN AND CONTINUED COMING IN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. 2 OF THE BUSES HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINES THAT BLEW UP ON THE WAY FROM THE FACTORY TO DELIVERY. MULTIPLE AND ONGOING PROBLEMS SIDELINED THE BUSES TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD NOT ACCEPT THEM OR OPERATE THEM. AFTER TECHNICIANS WORKED ON THE BUSES, WE ACCEPTED THEM BY THE END OF DECEMBER TO ENABLE THE COMPANY TO GET PAID. THROUGH THE MONTH OF JAN., WE CONTINUED TO FINE TUNE THE PROBLEMS. FINALLY, WE STARTED ROAD TESTING THEM ON FEB. 19. ON MARCH 21, WE HAD ONE CATCH FIRE AND NEARLY BURN TO THE GROUND. AFTER DISABLING THE COMPONENT THOUGHT TO BE THE CULPRIT, WE CONTINUED TO ROAD TEST THE BUSES. IN APRIL WE HAD ANOTHER FIRE IN A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE BUS. AGAIN ALL BUSES HAVE BEEN DEADLINED. IN ADDITION, THE NEW BUSES, ALL WITH LESS THAN 4,000 MILES, HAVE BEEN TOWED FROM THE OPEN ROAD 4 TIMES WHEN THEY HAVE FAILED. NABI HAS SENT 3 TECHNICIANS OUT AND THE BUSES CONTINUE TO FAIL. IN ADDITION, THE SERIAL ENGINE NUMBER FOR THIS BUS BELONGS TO ANOTHER AGENCY. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 13, 20082,000 milesMT
WE PURCHASED A FLEET OF 8 25-PASSENGER BUSES FROM NABI, WHO BOUGHT OUR OPTIMA BUS. THEY RECEIVED THE BID BECAUSE THEY COULD GUARANTEE DELIVERY BY THE FIRST PART OF JULY. ON AUG. 30, THE FIRST BUSES STARTED COMING IN AND CONTINUED COMING IN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. 2 OF THE BUSES HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINES THAT BLEW UP ON THE WAY FROM THE FACTORY TO DELIVERY. MULTIPLE AND ONGOING PROBLEMS SIDELINED THE BUSES TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD NOT ACCEPT THEM OR OPERATE THEM. AFTER TECHNICIANS WORKED ON THE BUSES, WE ACCEPTED THEM BY THE END OF DECEMBER TO ENABLE THE COMPANY TO GET PAID. THROUGH THE MONTH OF JAN., WE CONTINUED TO FINE TUNE THE PROBLEMS. FINALLY, WE STARTED ROAD TESTING THEM ON FEB. 19. ON MARCH 21, WE HAD ONE CATCH FIRE AND NEARLY BURN TO THE GROUND. AFTER DISABLING THE COMPONENT THOUGHT TO BE THE CULPRIT, WE CONTINUED TO ROAD TEST THE BUSES. IN APRIL WE HAD ANOTHER FIRE IN A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE BUS. AGAIN ALL BUSES HAVE BEEN DEADLINED. IN ADDITION, THE NEW BUSES, ALL WITH LESS THAN 4,000 MILES, HAVE BEEN TOWED FROM THE OPEN ROAD 4 TIMES WHEN THEY HAVE FAILED. NABI HAS SENT 3 TECHNICIANS OUT AND THE BUSES CONTINUE TO FAIL. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 13, 20082,000 milesMT
WE PURCHASED A FLEET OF 8 25-PASSENGER BUSES FROM NABI, WHO PURCHASED OPTIMA BUS. THEY RECEIVED THE BID BECAUSE THEY COULD GUARANTEE DELIVERY BY THE FIRST PART OF JULY. ON AUG 30, THE FIRST BUSES STARTED TO ARRIVE AND CONTINUED COMING IN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. 2 OF THE BUSES NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINES THAT BLEW UP ON THE WAY FROM THE FACTORY TO DELIVERY. MULTIPLE AND ONGOING PROBLEMS SIDELINED THE BUSES TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD NEITHER ACCEPT THEM NOR OPERATE THEM. AFTER TECHNICIANS WORKED ON THE BUSES, WE ACCEPTED THEM BY THE END OF DEC. TO ENABLE NABI TO GET PAID. THROUGH THE MONTH OF JAN, WE CONTINUED TO FINE TUNE THE BUSES. FINALLY, WE STARTED ROAD TESTING THEM ON FEB. 19. ON MARCH 21, ONE OF THE BUSES CAUGHT FIRE AND NEARLY BURNED TO THE GROUND. AFTER DISABLING THE COMPONENT THOUGHT TO BE THE CULPRIT, WE CONTINUED TO ROAD TEST THE BUSES. IN APRIL, WE HAD ANOTHER BUS CATCH FIRE IN A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE BUS. AGAIN, ALL BUSES HAVE BEEN DEADLINED. IN ADDITION, THE NEW BUSES, ALL WITH LESS THAT 4,000 MILES HAVE BEEN TOWED FROM THE OPEN ROAD 4 TIMES WHEN THEY HAVE FAILED. NABI HAS SENT 3 TECHNICIANS OUT AND THE BUSES CONTINUE TO FAIL. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling1 injured
Filed May 13, 20082,000 milesMT
WE PURCHASED A FLEET OF 8 25-PASSENGER BUSES FROM NABI, WHO BOUGHT OUR OPTIMA BUS. THEY RECEIVED THE BID BECAUSE THEY COULD GUARANTEE DELIVERY BY THE FIRST PART OF JULY. ON AUG. 30, THE FIRST BUSES STARTED COMING IN AND CONTINUED COMING IN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. 2 OF THE BUSES HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINES THAT BLEW UP ON THE WAY FROM THE FACTORY TO DELIVERY. MULTIPLE AND ONGOING PROBLEMS SIDELINED THE BUSES TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD NOT ACCEPT THEM OR OPERATE THEM. AFTER TECHNICIANS WORKED ON THE BUSES, WE ACCEPTED THEM BY THE END OF DECEMBER TO ENABLE THE COMPANY TO GET PAID. THROUGH THE MONTH OF JAN., WE CONTINUED TO FINE TUNE THE PROBLEMS. FINALLY, WE STARTED ROAD TESTING THEM ON FEB. 19. ON MARCH 21, WE HAD ONE CATCH FIRE AND NEARLY BURN TO THE GROUND. AFTER DISABLING THE COMPONENT THOUGHT TO BE THE CULPRIT, WE CONTINUED TO ROAD TEST THE BUSES. IN APRIL WE HAD ANOTHER FIRE IN A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE BUS. AGAIN ALL BUSES HAVE BEEN DEADLINED. IN ADDITION, THE NEW BUSES, ALL WITH LESS THAN 4,000 MILES, HAVE BEEN TOWED FROM THE OPEN ROAD 4 TIMES WHEN THEY HAVE FAILED. NABI HAS SENT 3 TECHNICIANS OUT AND THE BUSES CONTINUE TO FAIL. *TR
Engine and Engine Cooling
Filed May 13, 20082,000 milesMT
WE PURCHASED A FLEET OF 8 25-PASSENGER BUSES FROM NABI, WHO BOUGHT OUR OPTIMA BUS. THEY RECEIVED THE BID BECAUSE THEY COULD GUARANTEE DELIVERY BY THE FIRST PART OF JULY. ON AUG. 30, THE FIRST BUSES STARTED COMING IN AND CONTINUED COMING IN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. 2 OF THE BUSES HAD TO REPLACE THE ENGINES THAT BLEW UP ON THE WAY FROM THE FACTORY TO DELIVERY. MULTIPLE AND ONGOING PROBLEMS SIDELINED THE BUSES TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD NOT ACCEPT THEM OR OPERATE THEM. AFTER TECHNICIANS WORKED ON THE BUSES, WE ACCEPTED THEM BY THE END OF DECEMBER TO ENABLE THE COMPANY TO GET PAID. THROUGH THE MONTH OF JAN., WE CONTINUED TO FINE TUNE THE PROBLEMS. FINALLY, WE STARTED ROAD TESTING THEM ON FEB. 19. ON MARCH 21, WE HAD ONE CATCH FIRE AND NEARLY BURN TO THE GROUND. AFTER DISABLING THE COMPONENT THOUGHT TO BE THE CULPRIT, WE CONTINUED TO ROAD TEST THE BUSES. IN APRIL WE HAD ANOTHER FIRE IN A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE BUS. AGAIN ALL BUSES HAVE BEEN DEADLINED. IN ADDITION, THE NEW BUSES, ALL WITH LESS THAN 4,000 MILES, HAVE BEEN TOWED FROM THE OPEN ROAD 4 TIMES WHEN THEY HAVE FAILED. NABI HAS SENT 3 TECHNICIANS OUT AND THE BUSES CONTINUE TO FAIL. *TR
Engine and Engine CoolingFire1 injured
Filed May 13, 20082,000 milesMT
WE PURCHASED A FLEET OF 8 25-PASSENGER BUSES FROM NABI, WHO PURCHASED OPITMA BUS. THEY RECEIVED THE BID BECAUSE THEY COULD GUARANTEE DELIVERY BY THE FIRST PART OF JULY. ON AUG 30, THE FIRST BUSES STARTED TO ARRIVE AND CONTINUED COMING IN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. 2 OF THE BUSES NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINES THAT BLEW UP ON THE WAY FROM THE FACTORY TO DELIVERY. MULTIPLE AND ONGOING PROBLEMS SIDELINED THE BUSES TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD NEITHER ACCEPT THEM NOR OPERATE THEM. AFTER TECHNICIANS WORKED ON THE BUSES, WE ACCEPTED THEM BY THE END OF DEC. TO ENABLE NABI TO GET PAID. THROUGH THE MONTH OF JAN, WE CONTINUED TO FINE TUNE THE BUSES. FINALLY, WE STARTED ROAD TESTING THEM ON FEB. 19. ON MARCH 21, ONE OF THE BUSES CAUGHT FIRE AND NEARLY BURNED TO THE GROUND. AFTER DISABLING THE COMPONENT THOUGHT TO BE THE CULPRIT, WE CONTINUED TO ROAD TEST THE BUSES. IN APRIL, WE HAD ANOTHER BUS CATCH FIRE IN A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE BUS. AGAIN, ALL BUSES HAVE BEEN DEADLINED. IN ADDITION, THE NEW BUSES, ALL WITH LESS THAT 4,000 MILES HAVE BEEN TOWED FROM THE OPEN ROAD 4 TIMES WHEN THEY HAVE FAILED. NABI HAS SENT 3 TECHNICIANS OUT AND THE BUSES CONTINUE TO FAIL. *TR
Engine and Engine CoolingFire
Filed May 13, 20082,000 milesMT
WE PURCHASED A FLEET OF 8 25-PASSENGER BUSES FROM NABI, WHO PURCHASED OPITMA BUS. THEY RECEIVED THE BID BECAUSE THEY COULD GUARANTEE DELIVERY BY THE FIRST PART OF JULY. ON AUG 30, THE FIRST BUSES STARTED TO ARRIVE AND CONTINUED COMING IN OVER THE NEXT COUPLE OF MONTHS. 2 OF THE BUSES NEEDED TO REPLACE THE ENGINES THAT BLEW UP ON THE WAY FROM THE FACTORY TO DELIVERY. MULTIPLE AND ONGOING PROBLEMS SIDELINED THE BUSES TO THE POINT WHERE WE COULD NEITHER ACCEPT THEM NOR OPERATE THEM. AFTER TECHNICIANS WORKED ON THE BUSES, WE ACCEPTED THEM BY THE END OF DEC. TO ENABLE NABI TO GET PAID. THROUGH THE MONTH OF JAN, WE CONTINUED TO FINE TUNE THE BUSES. FINALLY, WE STARTED ROAD TESTING THEM ON FEB. 19. ON MARCH 21, ONE OF THE BUSES CAUGHT FIRE AND NEARLY BURNED TO THE GROUND. AFTER DISABLING THE COMPONENT THOUGHT TO BE THE CULPRIT, WE CONTINUED TO ROAD TEST THE BUSES. IN APRIL, WE HAD ANOTHER BUS CATCH FIRE IN A DIFFERENT AREA OF THE BUS. AGAIN, ALL BUSES HAVE BEEN DEADLINED. IN ADDITION, THE NEW BUSES, ALL WITH LESS THAT 4,000 MILES HAVE BEEN TOWED FROM THE OPEN ROAD 4 TIMES WHEN THEY HAVE FAILED. NABI HAS SENT 3 TECHNICIANS OUT AND THE BUSES CONTINUE TO FAIL. *TR
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Sep 19, 2013. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.