The defect
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.
The risk
THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
The 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.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Novabus RTS | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Novabus RTS | 1994 | 0 | 2 |
| Novabus RTS | 1995 | 0 | 2 |
| Novabus RTS | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Novabus RTS | 1997 | 0 | 3 |
| Novabus RTS | 1998 | 0 | 3 |
| Novabus RTS | 1999 | 0 | 3 |
| Novabus RTS | 2000 | 0 | 5 |
| Novabus RTS | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 2002
14 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the exterior lighting; NOVA BUS INCORPORATED filed 17 campaigns in all.
| 02V331000 12 Dec 2002 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 02V322000 2 Dec 2002 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 02V296000 7 Nov 2002 | FOREST RIVER, INC. |
| 02V238000 9 Sept 2002 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA INC |
| 02V207000 29 Jul 2002 | KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. |
| 02V179000 15 Jul 2002 | GLAVAL BUS DIVISION |
| 02V168000 21 Jun 2002 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 02V152000 13 Jun 2002 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002