The Recall Desk
SevereNHTSA·11V523000·Announced 2011-10-28

Daimler Orion Hybrid Buses Recalled for Battery Fire Risk

Daimler Buses is recalling certain Orion VII hybrid and electric buses because debris in the battery system can cause a fire.

What this means for you

Illness, injury, or structural failure has been reported. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a high-voltage battery defect that can result in a fire, which meets the rubric criteria for 'Severe' due to significant injury/property-damage reports or structural vehicle defects involving fire risk.

Plain-English summary

Daimler Buses North America, Inc. is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 Orion VII Li-Ion Hybrid transit buses and model year 2006 Orion VII Li-Ion ESS transit buses. These vehicles contain BAE Systems lithium-ion energy storage systems.

Over time, particulate debris can accumulate in the hybrid system's lithium-ion storage system. If this debris accumulates in conjunction with moisture, it can breach the electrical isolation of the high-voltage battery pack. If the electrical isolation is breached at both ends of the battery, a conductive path can be created.

This condition can result in the unintentional discharge of the battery's stored energy, creating a risk of smoke, melting, and charring, possibly resulting in a fire. Orion will notify owners, and repairs will be performed by BAE Systems free of charge. Owners may contact Daimler Buses North America at 1-905-403-1111.

The recalled product

Product
ORION ORION VII LI-ION HYBRID, ORION VII LI-ION ESS
Brand
ORION
Affected units
1,300

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (2)

  • ORION VII LI-ION HYBRID
  • ORION VII LI-ION ESS

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.