The defect
Proterra, Inc. (Proterra) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Catalyst buses. The vehicles are equipped with swivel valves that may insufficiently protect the air brake system from an air leak between the service reservoir and the source of air pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
The risk
If the swivel valves are unable to protect the air brake system against loss of air pressure, this may lead to service brake failure and the possibility for the uncontrolled application of the safety brake. Either condition increases the risk of crash.
The remedy
Proterra will notify owners, and will replace the swivel valve with a check valve that is sufficient to protect the air brake system, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Proterra Catalyst | 2017, 2018 |
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Proterra Catalyst | 2017 | 0 | 8 |
| Proterra Catalyst | 2018 | 0 | 9 |
Other service brakes, air recalls in 2019
33 of the 880 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2019 concerned the service brakes, air; Proterra Inc. filed 9 campaigns in all.
| 19V913000 20 Dec 2019 | SVI Trucks |
| 19V898000 18 Dec 2019 | Maintainer Corporation of Iowa, Inc. |
| 19V838000 21 Nov 2019 | Navistar, Inc. |
| 19V828000 19 Nov 2019 | Marion Body Works Inc. |
| 19V803000 7 Nov 2019 | Daimler Trucks North America LLC |
| 19V764000 25 Oct 2019 | Custom Fire Apparatus, Inc. |
| 19V739000 16 Oct 2019 | Hyundai Translead |
| 19V711000 7 Oct 2019 | Daimler Trucks North America LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2019