IllustrationA FIRE ORIGINATED FROM THE RIGHT REAR SIDE BRAKE DRUM DESTROYED THIS BUS.AFTER REVIEWING COMPLAINT NUMBER 10082983 & 10119358. I BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT IS RELATED TO THE FIRE OF OUR BUS. I REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THIS IS A TRANSIT BUS AND THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS IS OF CONCERN.
2000 Orion Vi
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Vi years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 3 of 3 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, Hydraulic. Review the 3 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Tires. 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 reports3 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
3 reportsA FIRE ORIGINATING FROM THE RIGHT REAR SIDE BRAKE DRUM DESTROYED THIS BUS. AFTER REVIWING PRIOR COMPLAINT NUMBER 10082983, WE BELIEVE THIS INCIDENT IS RELATED TO THE INCIDENT THAT WAS THE SUBJECT OF COMPAINT # 10082983. WE REQUEST AN INVESTIGATION BECAUSE THIS IS A TRANSIT BUS AND THE SAFETY OF PASSENGERS IS OF CONCERN.
1) INTERUPTION OF SERVICE REPORTED BY BUS OPERATOR AND FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUESTED. 2) MECHANICAL FAILURE OF PNEUMATIC BRAKE CHAMBER CAUSING BRAKES TO DRAG RESULTING IN SUFFICIENT HEAT TO IGNITE THE TIRE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS OF THE VEHICLE. 3) ALTERNATE BRAKE CHAMBER HAS BEEN RESEARCHED, TESTED AND IMPLEMENTATION STARTED.*A…
Read full complaint
1) INTERUPTION OF SERVICE REPORTED BY BUS OPERATOR AND FIRE DEPARTMENT REQUESTED. 2) MECHANICAL FAILURE OF PNEUMATIC BRAKE CHAMBER CAUSING BRAKES TO DRAG RESULTING IN SUFFICIENT HEAT TO IGNITE THE TIRE AND THE SURROUNDING AREAS OF THE VEHICLE. 3) ALTERNATE BRAKE CHAMBER HAS BEEN RESEARCHED, TESTED AND IMPLEMENTATION STARTED.*AK
Official recalls
310V538000 · Equipment Adaptive/mobility
Nov 2, 2010
DAIMLER BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 1995 THROUGH 2000 TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 1996 THROUGH DECEMBER 2000. THESE BUSES ARE CONFIGURED WITH A TAPPED FITTING FOR THE HYDRAULIC WHEELCHAIR RAMP. IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CONNECTED TO THE HYDRAULIC PUMP IS A FITTING WITH AN ADAPTER FOR THE WHEELCHAIR RAMP OPERATION. THE FITTING CAN CRACK AND CAUSE HYDRAULIC FLUID TO LEAK INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: HYDRAULIC FLUIDS LEAKING INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT CAN BE IGNITED BY THE HOT TURBOCHARGER AND CAUSE AN ENGINE FIRE.
Remedy: BUS OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED ON HOW TO REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON 3, DECEMBER 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER BUSES AT 1-800-716-7566.
03V120000 · Visibility:glass, Side/rear
Mar 27, 2003
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.
01V033005 · Electrical SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V Battery
Jan 29, 2001
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
1PE10041 · Hydraulic Auxiliary Pump Fitting Failure
Opened Oct 20, 2010 · Closed Nov 9, 2010
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Equipment; Equipment Adaptive/mobility
ODI became aware of a fire involving a Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) bus.A WMATA contracted vehicle inspection identified the failure of a tapped hydraulic fitting to have caused the fire. Orion VI buses were built from 1994 to 2002.This investigation is specific to 1995, 1997-2000 production.Daimler Bus informed ODI that 1994 & 1996 model year buses were either prototypes or sold only in Canada; buses built after 2000 had a tee fitting in lieu of the tapped fitting in question.On October 20, 2010 Daimler Bus informed ODI that an internal meeting was planned to discuss the same concern as the one that prompted this investigation.ODI agreed to delay formally requesting information; an IR letter was to be mailed on November 9, 2010 if needed. On November 2, 2010 ODI received a 573 Defect Report (Recall 10V-538) that addresses the concerns of this investigation.This investigation will be closed.There is no associated IR letter.A copy of the defect report is attached.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Equipment Adaptive/mobility
ODI became aware of a fire involving a Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) bus.A WMATA contracted vehicle inspection identified the failure of a tapped hydraulic fitting to have caused the fire. Orion VI buses were built from 1994 to 2002.This investigation is specific to 1995, 1997-2000 production.Daimler Bus informed ODI that 1994 & 1996 model year buses were either prototypes or sold only in Canada; buses built after 2000 had a tee fitting in lieu of the tapped fitting in question.On October 20, 2010 Daimler Bus informed ODI that an internal meeting was planned to discuss the same concern as the one that prompted this investigation.ODI agreed to delay formally requesting information; an IR letter was to be mailed on November 9, 2010 if needed. On November 2, 2010 ODI received a 573 Defect Report (Recall 10V-538) that addresses the concerns of this investigation.This investigation will be closed.There is no associated IR letter.A copy of the defect report is attached.
Equipment
ODI became aware of a fire involving a Washington Metro Area Transit Authority (WMATA) bus.A WMATA contracted vehicle inspection identified the failure of a tapped hydraulic fitting to have caused the fire. Orion VI buses were built from 1994 to 2002.This investigation is specific to 1995, 1997-2000 production.Daimler Bus informed ODI that 1994 & 1996 model year buses were either prototypes or sold only in Canada; buses built after 2000 had a tee fitting in lieu of the tapped fitting in question.On October 20, 2010 Daimler Bus informed ODI that an internal meeting was planned to discuss the same concern as the one that prompted this investigation.ODI agreed to delay formally requesting information; an IR letter was to be mailed on November 9, 2010 if needed. On November 2, 2010 ODI received a 573 Defect Report (Recall 10V-538) that addresses the concerns of this investigation.This investigation will be closed.There is no associated IR letter.A copy of the defect report is attached.