The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CHALLENGER 2000 MODEL 170 SERIES ALTERNATORS. THE POSITIVE POWER STUD MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEATED IN PLACE CAUSING A LOOSE CONNECTION. THIS LOOSE CONNECTION CAUSES AN OVER-HEAT CONDITION WHEN THE ALTERNATOR IS UNDER A LOAD. ALSO THE MATERIAL USED TO INSULATE THE POWER STUD FROM THE RECTIFIER CAN TEAR AND CAUSE THE POSITIVE POWER STUD TO GROUND TO THE ALTERNATOR CASE.
The risk
THE ALTERNATOR CAN GET HOT ENOUGH TO CATCH FIRE WHICH COULD SPREAD TO OTHER AREAS OF THE VEHICLE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ALTERNATORS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Orion II | 1997, 1998 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR
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 II | 1997 | 0 | 3 |
| Orion II | 1998 | 0 | 5 |
Other electrical system recalls in 1998
34 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the electrical system; ORION BUS INDUSTRIES, INC. filed 13 campaigns in all.
| 98V240003 22 Dec 1998 | DAMON CORPORATION |
| 98V313000 14 Dec 1998 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 98V300000 8 Dec 1998 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 98V307000 7 Dec 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V299000 24 Nov 1998 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 98V275000 3 Nov 1998 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 98V279000 3 Nov 1998 | GULF STATES TOYOTA, INC. |
| 98V278000 19 Oct 1998 | SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998