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When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 1 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
Service Brakes, Air. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
0 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
1 reports
Mileage unknown · Apr 21, 2003
Service Brakes, Air
APRIL 21, 2003 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION NSA-10.01, 400 7TH STREET, SW WASHINGTON, DC 20590 SUBJECT: ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) DEFECT ?? 2000 MODEL ORION V TRANSIT BUSES THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT OF DENVER, COLORADO OPERA…
Read full complaint
APRIL 21, 2003 U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION NSA-10.01, 400 7TH STREET, SW WASHINGTON, DC 20590 SUBJECT: ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) DEFECT ?? 2000 MODEL ORION V TRANSIT BUSES THE REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION DISTRICT OF DENVER, COLORADO OPERATES A SUBFLEET OF 303 MODEL YEAR 2000 ORION V TRANSIT BUSES. THESE BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH THE MERITOR WABCO ANTI-LOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS) AND TRACTION CONTROL SYSTEM. ON OCTOBER 29, 2002 DURING A HEAVY SNOWSTORM, 29 OF THESE ORION BUSES EXPERIENCED FRONT WHEEL LOCK UP UPON BRAKE APPLICATION. IT APPEARED THE ABS MODULATOR VALVES WERE OBSTRUCTED BY SNOW AND ICE, AND FAILED TO RELEASE AIR DURING AN ABS CYCLE. RTD ACCIDENTALLY DISCOVERED THAT BY POWERING DOWN THE BUSES AND POWERING THEM BACK UP, THE ABS WENT THROUGH A SELF-TEST PROCEDURE, WHICH ALLOWED VENTING OF TRAPPED AIR IN THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND RELEASED THE BRAKE. THIS PROBLEM REPEATED ON MARCH 19, 2003 DURING ANOTHER HEAVY SNOWSTORM IN DENVER. DURING THE MIDST OF THE SNOWSTORM, OVER 200 RTD BUSES, MOST OF THEM ORION BUSES, WERE STUCK ON SNOW. RTD CONTRIBUTED MOST OF THE STUCK BUSES TO THE FRONT WHEEL LOCK UP PROBLEM RESULTING FROM THE FAILURES OF THE ABS. TWO OTHER SUBFLEETS IN RTD??S FLEET THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH SIMILAR ABS EXPERIENCED NO SIMILAR ABS FAILURES DURING THE TWO SNOWSTORMS. RTD HAS REQUESTED ORION AND MERITOR WABCO TO CORRECT THIS BRAKE SYSTEM SAFETY RELATED DEFECT. HOWEVER, ORION AND MERITOR WABCO HAVE REFUSED TO TAKE ANY ACTIONS. RTD IS FILING THIS COMPLAINT IN HOPING OF GETTING THE ASSISTANCE FROM THE GOVERNMENT TO REQUIRE THE VEHICLE MANUFACTURER AND/OR THE EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURER TO TAKE ACTIONS TO CORRECT THIS DEFECT. PLEASE CONTACT THE UNDERSIGNED FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION IF NECESSARY AT 303-299-6265 OR EMAIL LOU.HA@RTD-DENVER.COM. *JB
DAIMLER BUSES IS RECALLING CERTAIN ORION TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH THE MORSE REMOTE THROTTLE CONTROL. THE MORSE REMOTE THROTTLE CONTROL PANEL IS LOCATED IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND A SWITCH ON IT IS LABELED, "THROTTLE"; "OFF" OR "FRONT" AND "ON" OR "REAR" SELECTING THE ACTIVE ENGINE CONTROL STATION. IF A PERSON OPERATING THE ENGINE FROM THE "REAR" POSITION (AT THE ENGINE) FAILS TO PLACE THE SWITCH IN THE "OFF" OR "FRONT" POSITION AND THE ENGINE RPM WAS SET TO ABOVE IDLE DURING MAINTENANCE FOR EXAMPLE, WHEN THE BUS IS STARTED FROM THE DRIVER'S STATION THE ENGINE COULD CHANGE TO THE HIGHER RPM RESULTING IN UNWANTED ENGINE POWER.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE BUS COULD ACCELERATE AT A HIGHER RATE THAN ANTICIPATED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: DAIMLER WILL PROVIDE INSTRUCTIONS TO MODIFY THE WIRING TO THE MORSE THROTTLE CONTROL SWITCH. THIS SERVICE WILL BE PERFORMED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 1, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER BUSES AT 1-800-716-7466.
DAIMLER BUSES IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 THROUGH 2008 ORION TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH LIFT-U WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE LIFTS ARE EQUIPPED WITH A LOGIC BOARD ASSEMBLY FOR THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT CONTROL BOX, P/NOS. 373-0226 AND 373-0265. THE OUTBOARD RAMP BARRIER COULD FOLD IN TOWARD A LIFT PASSENGER AND PINCH, PRESS, OR CRUSH THE PASSENGER'S FEET.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE LIFT PASSENGER COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
Remedy: ORION WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE REPAIRS WILL BE MADE BY LIFT-U FREE OF CHARGE. PLEASE SEE LIFT-U'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-051. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT LIFT-U AT 1-209-838-2400 OR ORION AT 1-800-716-7466.
ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH EATON POWER STEERING PUMPS, THE PORT PLUG ON THE PUMP WAS INCOMPLETELY SEALED AND LEAKAGE OF THE HYDRAULIC FLUID CAN OCCUR WHICH COULD RESULT IN A REDUCTION IN THE POWER STEERING ASSIST.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THE DRIVER WILL BE SUBJECTED TO HARD TURNING OF THE STEERING WHEEL AND LOSS OF POWER ASSIST IN THE STEERING SYSTEM, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: EATON IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE POWER STEERING PUMPS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT EATON AT 1-888-258-0222 OR ORION BUS AT 905-403-7832.
CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." DURING SUBSEQUENT CLOSING OF AN EMERGENCY EXIT THE MOVING WINDOW FRAME INTERFERES WITH THE JAM FRAME STOP LOCATED IN MID SPAN ALONG THE LOWER EDGE OF THE WINDOW FRAME.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: DURING THE USE OF AN EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOW, A WINDOW MAY NOT OPEN AFTER APPLYING THE REQUIRED FORCES ALLOWING A PERSON TO ESCAPE IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO ALUMINUM BLOCKS EACH ATTACHED BY TWO SCREWS. THE MOVING WINDOW FRAME WILL NOT INTERFERE WITH THE JAM FRAME STOP. THE RECALL BEGAN MAY 1, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT ORION AT 905-403-7832, EXT. 3335.
CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." THE HANDLE PULL FORCE EXCEEDS THE 89N FORCE TO RELEASE THE EMERGENCY WINDOW. ADDITIONAL FORCE IS REQUIRED TO RELEASE THE WINDOW.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, AN OCCUPANT MAY HAVE DIFFICULTY OPENING THE EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOW, INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE WINDOWS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 1, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT ORION AT 1-800-492-2116.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH VANNER 60 SERIES BATTERY EQUALIZERS. THE EQUALIZER COULD FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY AND CAUSE MALFUNCTION OF THE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: WITHOUT FUSING, THE EQUALIZER MAY MELT, BURN, OR SMOKE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE OR A SMOKE FILLED BUS, THUS NECESSITATING A PASSENGER EVACUATION OF THE BUS. THE FAILURE MODE CAN CAUSE OPERATOR DISTRACTION, AND/OR POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: ORION WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO INSPECT THEIR BUSES FOR CERTAIN EQUALIZERS BY THE DATE CODE. THE AFFECTED EQUALIZERS WILL BE REPLACED BY VANNER. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VANNER AT 1-800-227-6937.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
0
No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.
2000 Orion V Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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