The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·24V056000·Announced 2024-01-31

New Flyer Recalls Electric Buses Due to Battery Fire Risk

New Flyer is recalling 337 electric buses because drain valve issues may allow liquid to accumulate in battery packs, increasing the risk of an electrical short and fire.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural defect in the propulsion system (traction battery thermal management) that creates a risk of fire. Per the rubric, structural vehicle defects or significant injury/property-damage risks (fire) warrant a Severe (4) classification, especially given the high-energy nature of electric bus battery packs.

Plain-English summary

New Flyer of America, Inc. is recalling certain 2021-2023 XE35, 2021-2023 XE40, 2021-2024 XE60, and 2023-2024 XHE40 electric buses. The recall affects a total of 337 vehicles. The defect involves one or more drain valves that may not activate as intended, which could allow battery packs to accumulate liquid inside the battery pack enclosure.

The accumulation of liquid inside the battery pack enclosure may lead to an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire. No specific injuries or fatalities are reported in the source text, but the potential for fire in a vehicle with a high-capacity battery system represents a significant safety hazard.

New Flyer will remove the rubber washer from the affected drain valves free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on March 14, 2024. Owners may contact New Flyer customer service at 1-204-224-6706 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236. This recall is in addition to NHTSA recall number 23V-083, and certain vehicles affected by both recalls will need to have both remedies performed.

The recalled product

Product
NEW FLYER XE35, XHE40, XE60, XE40
Brand
NEW FLYER
Manufacturer
New Flyer of America, Inc.
Category
Vehicle — Electric Bus
Hazard
Affected units
337

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 (4)

  • XE35
  • XHE40
  • XE60
  • XE40

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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