2008 Optima Opus

Routine

Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the service brakes. It has been recalled 3 times.

What fails
ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Service Brakes1
000

3 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.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Service Brakes
Filed Jan 8, 201580,000 milesNY

BRAKES REPLACED TWICE, ROTORS, CALIBERS, BRAKE HOSE, BREAK LINES,STARTER,WINDSHIELD PUMP,AND ALL AT DIFFERENT TIMES! THIS CAR WAS BRANDNEW WHEN I BOUGHT IT AND THIS IS NOT MY FIRST CAR NEW THAT I PURCHASED SINCE I HAVE BEEN DRIVING! I NORMALLY BUY EVERY TWO TO THREE YEARS A NEW CAR AND NEVER HAD MORE PROBLEMS THEN I HAD HAVE WITH THIS ONE AND WONDERED IF ANYONE ELSE HAD SAME ISSUES I AM HAVING WITH IN THIS SHORT TIME FROM REPLACING ONE PART AFTER ANOTHER? TODAY WHICH IS JANUARY 8TH 2015 I WAS COMING HOME AND WHEN I CAME TO A STOP SIGN I HAD NO BREAKS AND AFTER PUTTING EMERGENCY BREAK ON (WHICH BROKE) THE LIGHT CAME ON WHICH SAID BREAKS!! I HAVE NEVER FELT SO UNSAFE IN A CAR THEN I DO WITH THIS ONE. LAST SUMMER OUT FOR A DRIVE MY BACK DRIVER SIDE TIRE AREA WAS SMOKING SO I PULLED OVER AND THOUGHT MY CAR WAS ON FIRE! ONCE AGAIN HAD IT TOWED! IT WAS THE BREAK HOSE SO THEY THOUGHT AND REPLACED IT AND FOUND IT WAS THE CALIBER, I JUST SPENT 3HRS WAITING AT SHOP TO HAVE THAT FIXED AND COME TO THINK OF IT, I'VE SPENT ALOT MORE TIME AT SHOP ON THE OTHER FIXED PARTS, I KNOW CARS NEED THINGS REPLACED FROM WEAR&TEAR BUT GIVE ME A BREAK AND IM NOT LAUGHING ABOUT THIS EITHER! NOW IM OUT OF MY CAR AGAIN AND ASKING FOR RIDES TO WORK AGAIN BECAUSE I HAVE NO BRAKELINES. THANKS SO VERY MUCH FOR MAYBE READING THIS! [XXX] P.S. PLEASE SEND THROUGH MAIL ANY RECALLS BECAUSE I HAVE NEVER GOT ANY! THANK YOU INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

1 of 1 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2007
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20090300Routine
2008 — this page1300Routine
20078420Routine
20060100Routine
20050100Routine
20040100Routine
20030100Routine
20020100Routine
20010100Routine
20000100Routine

Compare every Opus year →

Reading this record

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.