The defect
CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL CONTAINERS, MODEL ALT823D, P/N 1273147, DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 304, 'COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL CONTAINER INTEGRITY.' THE NGV CONTAINER'S PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES FAIL TO TIMELY AND FULLY ACTIVATE AS REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE FIRE WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM ROOF ENCLOSURE REMOVED OR OPENED, THE FUEL CONTAINER'S PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES MAY NOT ACTIVATE AS THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DO AND THE FUEL CONTAINER COULD RUPTURE AND EXPLODE. SUCH AN EXPLOSION COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH TO OCCUPANTS OF THE BUS OR TO PERSONS OUTSIDE THE BUS.
The remedy
STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES WILL NOTIFY THE ORION BUS OWNERS. STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES HAS NOT YET PROVIDED THE AGENCY WITH A FINALIZED REMEDY. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT SCI AT 1-909-444-2503 OR ORION AT 1-905-403-7832.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Orion VII | 2002, 2003 |
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orion VII | 2002 | 0 | 6 |
| Orion VII | 2003 | 0 | 7 |
Other fuel system, other recalls in 2004
9 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the fuel system, other; ORION BUS INDUSTRIES LTD. filed 16 campaigns in all.
| 04V453000 15 Sept 2004 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 04V393000 10 Aug 2004 | FONTAINE MODIFICATION CO. |
| 04V378000 2 Aug 2004 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 04V339000 21 Jul 2004 | CRANE CARRIER COMPANY |
| 04V316000 2 Jul 2004 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 04V308000 23 Jun 2004 | GILLIG CORPORATION |
| 04V281000 8 Jun 2004 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 04V159000 7 Apr 2004 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004