The defect
North American Bus Industries (NABI) is recalling certain model year 2000-2011 LFW, CLFW, BRT, 2007-2009 Blue Bird L4RE, and 2000-2009 Optima Opus transit buses equipped with Sure Power battery equalizers containing a particular epoxy sealing, aka 'potting', compound. The specific potting compound used in the subject products for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.
The risk
Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy
NABI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the equalizers, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on January 27, 2014. Owners may contact NABI at 1-256-831-4296. NABI's recall number is 20136.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird L4RE | 2007, 2008, 2009 |
| Nabi BRT | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Nabi Clfw | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Nabi LFW | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
| Optima Opus | 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Bird L4RE | 2007 | 0 | 4 |
| Blue Bird L4RE | 2008 | 0 | 3 |
| Blue Bird L4RE | 2009 | 0 | 2 |
| Nabi BRT | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Nabi BRT | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Nabi BRT | 2002 | 0 | 2 |
| Nabi BRT | 2003 | 0 | 2 |
| Nabi BRT | 2004 | 0 | 2 |
| Nabi BRT | 2005 | 0 | 2 |
| Nabi BRT | 2006 | 0 | 3 |
| Nabi BRT | 2007 | 0 | 4 |
| Nabi BRT | 2008 | 0 | 4 |
| Nabi BRT | 2009 | 0 | 4 |
| Nabi BRT | 2010 | 0 | 3 |
| Nabi BRT | 2011 | 0 | 2 |
| Nabi Clfw | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Nabi Clfw | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Nabi Clfw | 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| Nabi Clfw | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Nabi Clfw | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| Nabi Clfw | 2005 | 0 | 1 |
| Nabi Clfw | 2006 | 0 | 2 |
| Nabi Clfw | 2007 | 0 | 3 |
| Nabi Clfw | 2008 | 0 | 3 |
| Nabi Clfw | 2009 | 0 | 3 |
| Nabi Clfw | 2010 | 0 | 3 |
| Nabi Clfw | 2011 | 0 | 2 |
| Nabi LFW | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Nabi LFW | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Nabi LFW | 2002 | 0 | 2 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2013
76 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the electrical system; North American Bus Industries, Inc. filed 7 campaigns in all.
| 13V640000 20 Dec 2013 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 13V639000 20 Dec 2013 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 13V642000 19 Dec 2013 | Nova Bus |
| 13V635000 18 Dec 2013 | Zero Motorcycles Inc. |
| 13V627000 17 Dec 2013 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 13V589000 22 Nov 2013 | Maserati North America, Inc. |
| 13V570000 15 Nov 2013 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 13V566000 13 Nov 2013 | General Motors LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013