- The problem
- 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.
- The risk
- Hydraulic fluids leaking into the engine compartment can be ignited by the hot turbocharger and cause an engine fire.
- The fix
- 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.
Vehicle safety record
1998 Orion VI Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1998 Orion VI have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 8 recalls, the latest in November 2010 for the equipment adaptive / mobility.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical VI year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1998 Orion VI recalls 8
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 equipped with detroit diesel series 50 engines, the turbocharger can fail allowing lubricating oil to enter the exhaust system.
- The risk
- In the event the turbocharger fails, a fire may occur in the engine compartment resulting in property damage or injuries.
- The fix
- Detroit diesel is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Dealers will repair the engine and install an exhaust temperature sensor to prevent the possibility of an exhaust or engine compartment fire. Owners may contact detroit diesel corporation at 313-592-5791 or orion at 905-403-7832.
- The problem
- On certain buses equipped with cummins electronic control modules on the l10g engines, the ecm does not have the ability to detect a throttle fail-safe engine shutdown command. This could result in an unanticipated, uncommanded open throttle condition without warning.
- The risk
- If this event occurs, the vehicle operator will not have control of the engine speed, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Cummins will notify the customers and replace the ecm. Owners should contact cummins at 1-800-343-7357 or orion at 1-800-658-2871.
- 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 wheel chair barriers. The wheel chair barriers are attached to the floor structure with a bolt threaded into the floor structure. In the case of a frontal crash, with the wheel chair position occupied, the bolt threads could strip allowing movement of the wheel chair barrier.
- The risk
- This condition could allow movement of the wheel chair which could cause personal injury, or death, to the wheel chair occupant.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the existing wheel chair barrier leg mounting bolts with new bolts, nuts and washers.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: transit buses equipped with sunsource/fauver tandem hydraulic pumps. The hydraulic piston pump is driven by the engine and a shaft out of the back of the pump providing power to the power steering pump. The shafts are connected together with a coupling. This coupling is fitted with two retainer clips which keeps it centered between the two pumps. These buses were shipped missing the coupling retainer clips.
- The risk
- Excessive movement of the coupling can disengage the two pump shafts, causing loss of power steering.
- The fix
- Dealers are inspecting and retrofitting the couplings on these pumps.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: transit buses built with zf front axles equipped with lucas disc brakes. The brake lever connecting the brake chamber pushrod to the disc brake actuator can contact the air bag support gusset during application of the brakes and become jammed and will not release the brake when the driver removes their foot from the brake pedal.
- The risk
- Since this is a steering axle, unwanted application of the brake can cause the vehicle to turn in the direction of the locked wheel increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will rework the brake levers on the subject buses.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1998 Orion VI 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 VI: every year compared
All VI years1998 Orion VI vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Orion VI | 0 | 8 | D | |
| 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 VI
Does the 1998 Orion VI have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 1998 Orion VI: equipment adaptive / mobility (November 2010); turbo / supercharger (February 2005); vehicle speed control (March 2004); glass, side / rear (March 2003) 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 VI had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1998 Orion VI a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 26 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Orion VI 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.
Which Orion VI years have the most complaints?
2000 (3), 1999 (1). See every Orion VI year compared.
What should I do if my 1998 Orion VI 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