Model year record

1997 NOVABUS RTS

3 recall campaigns on file for this model year. No owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 07V029000

Engine and engine cooling: engine: other fuel types: turbo/supercharger

Component
Engine and engine cooling: engine: other fuel types: turbo/supercharger
Manufacturer
NOVA BUS INCORPORATED
Vehicles affected
900
Reported to NHTSA
2007-02-01
Owners notified
2007-01-26

Defect description

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 50 ENGINES, THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WILL NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED TO ACTIVATE THE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR.

Safety risk

ENGINE MALFUNCTION COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO ENGINE AND VEHICLE DAMAGE AND POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

NOVABUS IS WORKING WITH DETROIT DIESEL TO REPROGRAM THE ENGINES (PLEASE SEE 05E050). THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL AT 1-313-592-3708 OR NOVABUS AT 1-450-472-6410.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V148000

Exterior lighting

Component
Exterior lighting
Manufacturer
NOVA BUS INCORPORATED
Vehicles affected
2,561
Reported to NHTSA
2002-05-30
Owners notified
2002-09-19

Defect description

CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES WITH AN OPTION FOR DECELERATION LIGHTS DO NOT MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DECELERATION LIGHTS ARE LOCATED ON THE REAR CENTER OF THE BUS, ABOVE THE REAR ENGINE DOOR. THEY ARE PROVIDED AS A MEANS OF ALERTING VEHICLES TRAVELING BEHIND THE BUS THAT IT IS SLOWING DOWN AND MAY BE PREPARING TO STOP. ALSO, THE DRIVER ACTIVATED, FLASHING HOODLUM LIGHTS, IS TO ALERT THE PUBLIC/POLICE TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION OCCURRING IN THE BUS FOR WHICH THE DRIVER REQUIRES ASSISTANCE. TWO OF THESE LIGHTS ARE LOCATED ON THE FRONT OF THE BUS AT EACH END OF THE DESTINATION SIGN AND TWO AT THE REAR OF THE BUS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE ROOF MARKER LIGHTS. THEY FLASH IN AN ALTERNATING PATTERN FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE STANDARD REQUIRES THAT THESE LAMPS SHALL BE WIRED TO BE STEADY BURNING.

Safety risk

THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL RETROFIT THESE BUSES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 19, 2002. 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 NOVABUS AT 1-505-347-2011.

Recall campaignNHTSA 01V321001

Structure: body: door

Component
Structure: body: door
Manufacturer
NOVA BUS INCORPORATED
Vehicles affected
43
Reported to NHTSA
2001-10-09
Owners notified
2001-11-05

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ADHESIVELY BONDED ALUMINUM BUS DOOR PANELS USED IN PASSENGER DOORWAYS ON TRANSIT AND LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY BUSES SUPPLIED BY VAPOR CORPORATION. DUE TO AN IMPERFECT BONDING OF THE DOOR PANEL SKIN TO THE PANEL FRAME, ENVIRONMENTAL MOISTURE MAY INFILTRATE REGIONS OF IMPERFECT BONDING AND CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE FRAME AND DOOR PANEL.

Safety risk

THE DOOR SEPARATES AND FALLS OFF, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

VAPOR CORPORATION WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS TO HAVE THEIR BUSES INSPECTED AND WILL INSTALL MECHANICAL FASTENERS TO ATTACH THE SKINS TO THE FRAME ELEMENTS. 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 VAPOR CORPORATION AT 847-967-8300 OR NOVABUS AT 1-505-347-7349.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

No complaints recorded for this model year.

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.