- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- The bus could accelerate at a higher rate than anticipated increasing the risk of a crash.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
1998 Orion II Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1998 Orion II have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 5 recalls, the latest in January 2010 for the pedal / hand lever(motorcycle).
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical II year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 5
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1998 Orion II recalls 5
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- On certain transit buses, the fuel lift pump could fail in a manner which results in engine fuel starvation, which could result in a stall condition. Potential lift pump failure modes include: brush wear out, bushing failure, rotor tab insert failure, or any other failure mode that would cause the fuel pumping element to stop spinning.
- The risk
- If the fuel lift pump pumping element stops spinning and the fuel pumping vanes stop in a location which blocks fuel flow through the lift pump, the engine will be starved of fuel. Fuel starvation could cause low engine power, engine misfire, or engine stall. Prior to the engine stalling, the operator could experience low engine power, engine misfire, and/or dash-mounted fault lamp illumination.
- The fix
- Cummins is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Owners may contact cummins at 1-800-343-7357 or orion bus at 905-403-7807.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- In the event of a crash, an occupant may have difficulty opening the emergency exit window, increasing the risk of personal injury or death.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- 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.
- The fix
- 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.
- The problem
- 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 fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ALTERNATORS.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1998 Orion II yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Orion II: every year compared
All II years1998 Orion II vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Orion II | 0 | 5 | F | |
| 1998 Orion Orion | 1 | 0 | - | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 1998 Orion II
Does the 1998 Orion II have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 5 recalls for the 1998 Orion II: pedal / hand lever(motorcycle) (January 2010); fuel system, diesel (March 2005); glass, side / rear (March 2003); 12v / 24v / 48v battery (January 2001) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 1998 Orion II had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1998 Orion II a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 8 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Orion II year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
What should I do if my 1998 Orion II has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data