1997 Orion VI

Routine

No owner complaints are on file for this vehicle. It has been recalled 6 times.

6 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Equipment Adaptive/Mobility10V538000
Filed Nov 2, 2010217 vehiclesDaimler Buses North America, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear03V120000
Filed Mar 27, 20034,191 vehiclesOrion Bus Industries, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Steering › Linkages › Knuckle › Spindle › Arm98V331000
Filed Dec 22, 199820 vehiclesOrion Bus Industries, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LOW-FLOOR TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH A CAST STEEL STEERING RELAY ARM. THE STEERING ARMS CAN FAIL WITHOUT WARNING.

Risk. THIS CONDITION CAN LEAVE THE BUS WITH NO STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE STEERING ARMS.

Unknown or Other98V210000
Filed Sep 21, 1998723 vehiclesOrion Bus Industries, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Suspension › Front98V166000
Filed Jul 20, 199831 vehiclesOrion Bus Industries, Inc.

Defect. 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.

Risk. 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.

Steering › Linkages97V129000
Filed Aug 28, 199720 vehiclesOrion Bus Industries, Inc.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LOW FLOOR TRANSIT BUSES. DUE TO MACHINING AND CASTING VARIANCES, TWO OF THE STEERING RELAY ARMS ON THESE VEHICLES CAN FRACTURE.

Risk. FAILURE OF THE STEERING ARM LEAVES THE BUS WITH NO STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE STEERING ARMS.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2000
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20050100Routine
20040100Routine
20030100Routine
20020300Routine
20010100Routine
20003330Routine
19991310Routine
19980800Routine
1997 — this page0600Routine
19960700Routine
19950400Routine

Compare every VI 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: Nov 2, 2010. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.