Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery
- Component
- Electrical system: 12V/24V/48V battery
- Manufacturer
- DAIMLER BUSES NORTH AMERICA, INC.
- Vehicles affected
- 1,300
- Reported to NHTSA
- 2011-10-28
- Owners notified
- 2011-11-16
Defect description
DAIMLER BUSES IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 ORION VII LI-ION HYBRID TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 2008 THROUGH AUGUST 2011 AND MODEL YEAR 2006 ORION VII LI-ION ESS TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007, CONTAINS BAE SYSTEMS (BAE) LITHIUM ION ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (ESS). OVER TIME, PARTICULATE DEBRIS CAN ACCUMULATE IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM'S LI-ION STORAGE SYSTEM (LI-ION ESS). ACCUMULATED DEBRIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH MOISTURE CAN BREACH THE ELECTRICAL ISOLATION OF THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY PACK. A CONDUCTIVE PATH CAN BE CREATED IF THE ELECTRICAL ISOLATION IS BREACHED AT BOTH ENDS OF THE BATTERY.
Safety risk
THIS CAN RESULT IN THE UNINTENTIONAL DISCHARGE OF THE BATTERY'S STORED ENERGY, CREATING A RISK OF SMOKE, MELTING AND CHARRING, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
ORION WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY BAE SYSTEMS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN NOVEMBER 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER BUSES NORTH AMERICA AT 1-905-403-1111.