NHTSA vehicle safety data

1997 Orion VI Recalls & Complaints

The 1997 Orion VI has 6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file as of October 21, 2026. try.vin has no NHTSA owner complaints on file for the 1997 Orion VI. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Orion dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 1997 Orion VI. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

HYDRAULIC AUXILIARY PUMP FITTING FAILURE

NHTSA #10V538000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · NHTSA notice

Reported November 2, 2010 · DAIMLER BUSES NORTH AMERICA, INC.

Potentially affected: 217 vehicles

Owners notified December 3, 2011 · Vehicles built January 1, 1996 – December 30, 2000 (per NHTSA) · Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation

Defect description

DAIMLER BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1995 THROUGH 2000 TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1996 THROUGH DECEMBER 2000. THESE BUSES ARE CONFIGURED WITH A TAPPED FITTING FOR THE HYDRAULIC WHEELCHAIR RAMP. IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CONNECTED TO THE HYDRAULIC PUMP IS A FITTING WITH AN ADAPTER FOR THE WHEELCHAIR RAMP OPERATION. THE FITTING CAN CRACK AND CAUSE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Safety consequence

HYDRAULIC FLUIDS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAN BE IGNITED BY THE HOT TURBOCHARGER AND CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

BUS OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON 3, DECEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER BUSES AT 1-800-716-7566.

Notes

OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO <A HREF=HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV>HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV</A> .

ORION/FMVSS 217/WINDOW HANDLE

NHTSA #03V120000 · Visibility — Glass, Side/Rear · NHTSA notice

Reported March 27, 2003 · ORION BUS INDUSTRIES, INC.

Potentially affected: 4,191 vehicles

Owners notified June 2, 2003 · Vehicles built January 1, 1995 – December 31, 2002 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." THE HANDLE PULL FORCE EXCEEDS THE 89N FORCE TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY WINDOW. ADDITIONAL FORCE IS REQUIRED TO RELEASE THE WINDOW.

Safety consequence

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY OPENING THE EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOW, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE WINDOWS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 1, 2003. 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 ORION AT 1-800-492-2116.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

ORION/STEERING RELAY ARM

NHTSA #98V331000 · Steering — Linkages — Knuckle — Spindle — Arm · NHTSA notice

Reported December 22, 1998 · ORION BUS INDUSTRIES, INC.

Potentially affected: 20 vehicles

Owners notified December 22, 1998 · Vehicles built December 1, 1996 – June 30, 1997 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LOW-FLOOR TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH A CAST STEEL STEERING RELAY ARM. THE STEERING ARMS CAN FAIL WITHOUT WARNING.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION CAN LEAVE THE BUS WITH NO STEERING CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE STEERING ARMS.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 22, 1998. 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 ORION AT 1-905-403-1111.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

ORION/WHEEL CHAIR BARRIER

NHTSA #98V210000 · Unknown or Other · NHTSA notice

Reported September 21, 1998 · ORION BUS INDUSTRIES, INC.

Potentially affected: 723 vehicles

Owners notified October 5, 1998 · Vehicles built January 2, 1997 – September 1, 1998 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH WHEEL CHAIR BARRIERS. THE WHEEL CHAIR BARRIERS ARE ATTACHED TO THE FLOOR STRUCTURE WITH A BOLT THREADED INTO THE FLOOR STRUCTURE. IN THE CASE OF A FRONTAL CRASH, WITH THE WHEEL CHAIR POSITION OCCUPIED, THE BOLT THREADS COULD STRIP ALLOWING MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL CHAIR BARRIER.

Safety consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD ALLOW MOVEMENT OF THE WHEEL CHAIR WHICH COULD CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY, OR DEATH, TO THE WHEEL CHAIR OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING WHEEL CHAIR BARRIER LEG MOUNTING BOLTS WITH NEW BOLTS, NUTS AND WASHERS.

Notes

OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING OCTOBER 1998. 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 ORION AT 1-905-403-1111.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

ORION/ZF FRONT AXLES

NHTSA #98V166000 · Suspension — Front · NHTSA notice

Reported July 20, 1998 · ORION BUS INDUSTRIES, INC.

Potentially affected: 31 vehicles

Owners notified August 24, 1998 · Vehicles built January 8, 1996 – June 22, 1998 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES BUILT WITH ZF FRONT AXLES EQUIPPED WITH LUCAS DISC BRAKES. THE BRAKE LEVER CONNECTING THE BRAKE CHAMBER PUSHROD TO THE DISC BRAKE ACTUATOR CAN CONTACT THE AIR BAG SUPPORT GUSSET DURING APPLICATION OF THE BRAKES AND BECOME JAMMED AND WILL NOT RELEASE THE BRAKE WHEN THE DRIVER REMOVES THEIR FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL.

Safety consequence

SINCE THIS IS A STEERING AXLE, UNWANTED APPLICATION OF THE BRAKE CAN CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO TURN IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCKED WHEEL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REWORK THE BRAKE LEVERS ON THE SUBJECT BUSES.

Notes

ZF IS HANDLING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS RECALL.

ORION/STEERING

NHTSA #97V129000 · Steering — Linkages · NHTSA notice

Reported August 28, 1997 · ORION BUS INDUSTRIES, INC.

Potentially affected: 20 vehicles

Owners notified September 2, 1997 · Vehicles built December 1, 1996 – February 28, 1997 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: LOW FLOOR TRANSIT BUSES. DUE TO MACHINING AND CASTING VARIANCES, TWO OF THE STEERING RELAY ARMS ON THESE VEHICLES CAN FRACTURE.

Safety consequence

FAILURE OF THE STEERING ARM LEAVES THE BUS WITH NO STEERING CONTROL INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE STEERING ARMS.

Notes

OWNERS WERE NOTIFIED AUGUST 1, 1997, TO REMOVE THESE BUSES FROM SERVICE UNTIL THE REMEDY WAS PERFORMED.A SECOND OWNERNOTIFICATIONIS EXPECTED TO BEGIN SEPTEMBER 2, 1997.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 ORION BUS AT 1-315-768-8101.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 1997 Orion VI. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

try.vin has no NHTSA owner complaints on file for the 1997 Orion VI.

Other Orion VI model years

Check your 1997 Orion VI VIN

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