The defect
ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH VANNER 60 SERIES BATTERY EQUALIZERS, THE EQUALIZER COULD FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY AND CAUSE MALFUNCTION OF THE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM.
The risk
WITHOUT FUSING, THE EQUALIZER MAY MELT, BURN, OR SMOKE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE OR A SMOKE FILLED BUS, THUS NECESSITATING A PASSENGER EVACUATION OF THE BUS. THE FAILURE MODE CAN CAUSE OPERATOR DISTRACTION, AND/OR POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy
VANNER IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUSES FOR CERTAIN EQUALIZERS BY THE DATE CODE. THE AFFECTED EQUALIZERS WILL BE REPLACED BY VANNER. 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 VANNER AT 1-800-227-6937 OR VAN HOOL/ABC COACH AT 407-656-7977.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Van Hool A508 | 2000, 2001 |
| Van Hool C2045 | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Van Hool S2145 | 1999, 2000, 2001 |
| Van Hool T2140 | 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Van Hool T2145 | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Van Hool T945 | 1998, 1999 |
| Van Hool T945S | 1999 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van Hool A508 | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool A508 | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool C2045 | 1999 | 0 | 3 |
| Van Hool C2045 | 2000 | 0 | 7 |
| Van Hool C2045 | 2001 | 0 | 7 |
| Van Hool S2145 | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool S2145 | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
| Van Hool S2145 | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool T2140 | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool T2140 | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool T2140 | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool T2145 | 1998 | 1 | 2 |
| Van Hool T2145 | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| Van Hool T2145 | 2000 | 0 | 3 |
| Van Hool T2145 | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| Van Hool T2145 | 2002 | 0 | 3 |
| Van Hool T945 | 1998 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool T945 | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Van Hool T945S | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2002
34 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the electrical system; VAN HOOL, N.V. filed 9 campaigns in all.
| 02V338000 16 Dec 2002 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 02V324000 6 Dec 2002 | KAWASAKI MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V288000 6 Nov 2002 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V284000 30 Oct 2002 | MOTOR COACH IND., INC. |
| 02V267000 1 Oct 2002 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 02V259000 20 Sept 2002 | PLEASURE-WAY INDUSTRIES LTD. |
| 02V256000 18 Sept 2002 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA,INC |
| 02V233000 5 Sept 2002 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002