Fuel system, other: delivery: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
NEOPLAN USA CORP.
Vehicles affected
594
Reported to NHTSA
1998-11-19
Owners notified
1998-11-30
Defect description
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT COACHES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS L-10 ENGINES AND NELSON CATALYSTS AND SOLD TO LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA TRANSIT AUTHORITY. THE CATALYST CAN EXPERIENCE HIGH TEMPERATURES, WHICH COULD BE CAUSED FROM UNBURNED METHANE IGNITING INSIDE THE CATALYST BRICK.
Safety risk
THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN EXTREME OVERHEATING OF THE CATALYST AND COULD CAUSE IGNITION OF SURROUNDING COMBUSTIBLES IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE CATALYST.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE VEHICLES FOR PROPER INSTALLATION AND POSITIONING; INCREASE THE SIZE OF THE FIBERGLASS HOLE SURROUNDING THE TAIL PIPE, REMOVE A RUBBER AIR INLET BOOT THAT WAS TOO CLOSE TO THE CATALYST; REPLACE THE FLEX PIPE IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM; AND ADD A BLANKET AROUND THE CATALYST TO PROVIDE ADDED INSULATION.
THE TYPE 4 COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) FUEL TANK SUPPLIED BY EDO CANADA CAN RUPTURE DURING FUELING.
Safety risk
RUPTURE OF A CNG FUEL TANK CAN CAUSE CNG LEAKAGE INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE OR EXPLOSION.
Manufacturer remedy
EACH TANK IS BEING VISUALLY INSPECTED, ASSISTED BY DYE PENETRANT AND RESONANCE TESTED. A DETECTION SHIELD IS PLACED UNDER EACH PAIR OF TANKS, UNDER THE BUS, TO PROVIDE EASE OF INSPECTION FOR ANY DAMAGE. ANY DAMAGED TANK WILL BE REPLACED.
THESE BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL TANKS SUPPLIED BY EDO CANADA. THE FUEL CYLINDER STRAPS EXPAND WHEN TANKS ARE PRESSURIZED CAUSING BRACKETS TO BREAK THE MOUNTING HARDWARE.
Safety risk
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE CYLINDER TO FALL INCREASING THE RISK OF EXPLOSION OR FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
A NEW STRAP WITH ELASTOMERIC SPRINGS THAT WILL ALLOW THE STRAP TO EXPAND WITH THE TANK HAS BEEN DESIGNED AND WILL BE INSTALLED ON THESE BUSES.
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly: pressure relief devices
Manufacturer
NEOPLAN USA CORP.
Vehicles affected
101
Reported to NHTSA
1995-08-30
Owners notified
1995-12-15
Defect description
SOME TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE TRIGGERS WERE NOT X-RAYED. THESE TRIGGERS COULD CONTAIN INTERNAL VOIDS THAT WOULD MAKE THE TRIGGERS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ADVANCED CREEP CAUSING FALSE ACTIVATION AND VENTING OF THE CNG.
Safety risk
VENTING OF THE CNG COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
NEOPLAN WILL REPLACE THE PRD WITH THE NEWER DESIGN "GENERATION 2.5" PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE.
Owner complaints
A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.
Component
Complaints
Median mileage
Engine and engine cooling: exhaust system: emission control: catalytic convertor
3
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The 1996 model has 3 times as many complaints as this one. These figures reflect raw complaint counts, not failure rates. Higher-selling model years naturally receive more complaints.
Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.