Freightliner Corporation: Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery
Freightliner Corporation reported this defect to federal regulators on Jan 29, 2001 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 927. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
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.
The risk
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.
The 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.
9 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Orion II | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Orion V | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Orion VI | 3 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 1999 Orion II | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Orion V | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Orion VI | 1 | 3 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 Orion II | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 Orion V | 0 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 Orion VI | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 01V033005.
Full record for the 2000 Orion II → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →