The defect
Motiv Power Systems, Inc. (Motiv) is recalling certain 2021-2023 F-450 and 2020 F-59 school buses equipped with a Motiv Gen 5 EPIC powertrain. The vehicle control software could misclassify a loss of isolation between the chassis and high voltage system, shutting down the high voltage (HV) batteries.
The risk
The shutdown of the HV batteries can cause a loss of steering and brake power assist, and drive power, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Motiv will release an over-the-air (OTA) software update, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 5, 2024. Owners may contact Motiv customer service at 1-650-458-4804.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Motiv E-450 BEV Chassis School Bus | 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| Motiv F-59 BEV Chassis School Bus | 2020 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:CHARGING:MODULE:SOFTWARE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motiv E-450 BEV Chassis School Bus | 2021 | 0 | 4 |
| Motiv E-450 BEV Chassis School Bus | 2022 | 0 | 4 |
| Motiv E-450 BEV Chassis School Bus | 2023 | 0 | 4 |
| Motiv F-59 BEV Chassis School Bus | 2020 | 0 | 4 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2024
178 of the 950 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2024 concerned the electrical system; Motiv Power Systems filed 13 campaigns in all.
| 24V969000 23 Dec 2024 | Nissan North America, Inc. |
| 24V966000 23 Dec 2024 | Storyteller Overland |
| 24V954000 20 Dec 2024 | Ford Motor Company |
| 24V959000 20 Dec 2024 | Gillig, LLC |
| 24V942000 19 Dec 2024 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| 24V940000 18 Dec 2024 | Polestar Automotive USA, Inc. |
| 24V932000 16 Dec 2024 | Mitsubishi Fuso Truck of America, Inc. |
| 24V930000 13 Dec 2024 | Daimler Vans USA, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2024