2010 Nova Bus Lfs Recall

Certain transit buses may not have enough emergency exits. As a result, the buses don't meet the minimum emergency exit requirements of Canadian regulations.

Missing emergency exits could slow your exit from the bus in an emergency. This could increase the risk of injury.

Nova Bus will notify owners by mail and provide you with instructions for how to replace some of the regular windows with emergency exit windows.

On certain transit buses, a software problem could cause various lamps to flash instead of staying on constantly. As a result, the bus may not meet certain requirement of Canadian regulations.

Flashing lamps could distract or confuse other road users and increase the risk of a crash.

Nova Bus will notify owners by mail and provide you with instructions for how to update the vehicle software.

On certain buses, the convex passenger-side exterior rearview mirror may not be curved enough. If fitted with a convex passenger-side mirror, Canadian regulations require a minimum and maximum curvature radius of the mirror surface.

This small error does not affect safety, as the visibility out of the vehicle is not limited by the non-compliant mirror assembly.

This is not a recall. Nova Bus has made production changes to ensure that all new buses have compliant convex passenger-side rear-view mirrors.

Certain transit buses may have been built with emergency exit windows that don't meet the requirements of Canadian regulations. As a result, the emergency exit windows may be difficult to find and open in an emergency. Also, the opening may not be large enough.

An emergency exit that is difficult to open could slow your exit from the bus in an emergency. This could create an increased risk of injury.

Nova Bus will notify owners in writing and provide you with directions for correcting this issue. This may include removing extra emergency exit windows, or moving the release mechanism, label and/or chime cord.

On certain buses, a message board on the rear of the bus displays momentary text when the stop lamps or turn signals are used. These momentary text messages could cause confusion for other road users.

Text messages about the stop lamps and turn signals that are displayed on the rear of the bus could cause confusion for others and increase the risk of a crash.

Nova Bus will notify owners in writing and provide them with directions for removing the rear message board.

On certain transit buses, the stop lamps and tail lamps are located too high above the ground. Canadian regulations provide a maximum mounting height for the stop lamps and tail lamps.

Stop lamps and tail lamps that are mounted too high may cause reduced visibility, which could increase the risk of a crash.

Nova Bus will notify owners by mail and provide them with directions for changing the mounting position of the stop and tail lamps.

On certain replacement seat belts sold through Prevost’s Part and Service Center for use on Recaro AM72 or AM80 driver seats, the buckle assembly of the driver’s seat belt may be defective. This may result in an inability to insert the seat belt tongue into the buckle assembly. In the event of a crash, an unbuckled seat belt may increase the risk of injury to the driver. Correction: Owners will be contacted by Nova Bus and supplied with the inspection and repair instructions. Replacement driver seat belts and hardware will be provided by Nova Bus as required.

A failure of this component (seats and restraints) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

Certain buses equipped with a Recaro ERGO-M driver seats may be missing welds on the seat structure. As a result, the seatbelt anchorage assembly could separate from the seat structure in the event of a crash, which would increase the risk of injury. Correction: Dealers will inspect for missing welds and if required replace the J-brackets.

A failure of this component (seats and restraints) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain buses, the rear axle half shaft surface treatment may be inadequate. This could result in axle shaft failure causing a loss of motive power; increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will replace rear axle half shafts.

A failure of this component (powertrain) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, fasteners used to secure side-facing fold-up seats may have been improperly installed. This could allow one side of the seat to partially separate from the wall, which could increase the risk of injury seat occupants and bystanders. Correction: Dealers will replace affected fasteners.

A failure of this component (seats and restraints) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

Certain vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Canada Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 121 - Air Brake Systems. The ABS malfunction light may not illuminate if the ABS control unit loses power, contrary to the requirements of the standard. This could result in loss of ABS function going unnoticed by the driver, which could affect braking system function, increasing the risk of a crash causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will reprogram the instrument cluster.

A failure of this component (brakes) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the positive alternator cable terminal may have been damaged during installation. As a result, the terminal may fracture and allow the cable to arc to other components, which may increase the risk of a vehicle fire causing injury and/or damage to property. Correction: Dealers will inspect the terminal and replace if necessary.

A failure of this component (electrical) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain buses equipped with Sure Power battery equalizers and/or convertors, the equalizer and/or convertor could develop an internal short circuit, resulting in a risk of overheating, smoke and/or fire. This may result in property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Owners will be supplied with replacement parts and instructions on how to affect repairs. Alternatively, the manufacturer may carry out on-site repairs.

A failure of this component (electrical) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain buses, the composition of the material used to cast the window emergency exit handles is incorrect, resulting in a reduction in material strength of the handles. In the event that an emergency exit handle fails during an actual emergency situation, passengers may be trapped in the vehicle placing them at risk. Correction: Dealers will replace the affected door handles.

A failure of this component (other) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain buses, the plunger within the Bendix E-10 brake valve could fracture during brake application, resulting in reduced brake pedal angle and travel. This could limit the driver’s ability to deliver full brake pressure, which could increase stopping distance, possibly causing a crash resulting in property damage and/or personal injury. Also, the brake plunger could become stuck and prevent the release of the service brake. Correction: Dealers will replace the brake valve plunger.

A failure of this component (brakes) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain buses, fasteners on various steering assembly components (steering box, steering shaft, etc.) may not have received adequate tightening torque during vehicle assembly. Should a steering component loosen or separate, it could result in a loss of steering capability. A loss of steering control could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Nova Bus will provide fleet operators with directives to inspect and tighten the various steering components fasteners to specifications.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain buses equipped with a Cummins engine, the V-band clamps used to connect the inlet and outlet cone sections to the Diesel Oxidation Catalyst (DOC) / Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) include a T-bolt which can fracture and fail when subjected to stress or load. A fracture or failure of the T-bolt may cause the clamp to loosen and the inlet or outlet sections attached to the DOC/DPF housing to disconnect. Should this occur, hot exhaust gases can vent prior to exiting the tailpipe, creating a risk of combustion or damage to adjacent materials, which could result in a vehicle fire. If both clamps fail, the DOC/DPF housing could detach completely, separate from the vehicle, and strike another vehicle, stationary object, or bystander. These issues could result in property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Cummins will install updated V-band clamps.

A failure of this component (engine) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain buses, the drag link fasteners may not have received adequate tightening torque during vehicle assembly. This could allow the drag link to disconnect, which could result in a loss of vehicle control. A loss of steering control could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will tighten drag link fasteners to specifications. Note: This recall supersedes recall 2010311.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, incorrect bolts were used on the engine supports and have not been tightened to proper specifications. The bolts may wear prematurely and subsequently break. When some of the bolts break, vibration and noise is induced in the structure which will prompt the driver to check his vehicle. If all bolts were to break at same time, the engine will always be supported by one end of the structure and the other end will be supported by the drive shaft causing enormous vibration and noise alerting the driver to park his the vehicle immediately in a safe area. Correction: Dealers will replace the engine mount fasteners.

A failure of this component (engine) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain buses, the drag link fasteners may not have received adequate tightening torque during vehicle assembly. This could allow the drag link to disconnect, which could result in a loss of vehicle control. A loss of steering control could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will tighten drag link fasteners to specifications. Note: This recall is superseded by recall 2011110.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain buses, there may be interference within the V-BEA multiplex communication network. Whenever the parking brake, or the vehicle's brake interlock is applied, the Automatic Traction Control (ATC) system's sensors could falsely detect the movement of a wheel. The ATC system could misinterpret this situation as wheel spin, subsequently applying and releasing the applied brakes. The vehicle could then move unexpectedly and cause a crash resulting in property damage, personal injury or death. Correction: Reprogramming procedures will be provided to affected vehicle fleet operators

A failure of this component (brakes) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the head of the fuel pump may have received an incorrect heat treatment process during manufacturing. At this time, there is no indication that the potential mode of failure will result in a fire. Correction: Cummins will replace the fuel pump assembly.

A failure of this component (fuel system) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain buses, an incorrect type of o-ring may have been installed on hydraulic fittings of the radiator and may rapidly deteriorate. Correction: New o-rings produced for this application will be provided by the manufacturer.

A failure of this component (other) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the flywheel housing support bolts may not have been tightened to proper specifications. As a result, the bolts may wear prematurely and break. Should bolts break, vibration and noise would be induced which will prompt the driver to check the vehicle. If all bolts were to break at same time, the engine would be supported by one end of the structure and the other end will be supported by the drive shaft causing enormous vibration and noise. Correction: Dealers will replace the rear flywheel housing support bolts and tighten them to proper specifications.

A failure of this component (engine) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).

On certain vehicles, the front tires may contact surrounding mechanical components during a tight turning manoeuvre. Over time, tire rub damage could cause tire failure which, in turn, can result in a vehicle crash causing property damage, personal injury or death. Correction: Dealers will affect repairs.

A failure of this component (steering) may increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Authorized dealerships will inspect the vehicle and complete all necessary repairs free of charge (parts and labor).