Orion V Recalls & Complaints by Model Year
NHTSA lists 24 safety recalls and 2 owner complaints across 19 model years of the Orion V (1990–2008). The most-complained-about year is 2000.
Pick your Orion V model year
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 2008 Orion V | 5 | 0 |
| 2007 Orion V | 5 | 0 |
| 2006 Orion V | 4 | 0 |
| 2005 Orion V | 5 | 0 |
| 2004 Orion V | 7 | 0 |
| 2003 Orion V | 7 | 0 |
| 2002 Orion V | 6 | 1 |
| 2001 Orion V | 5 | 0 |
| 2000 Orion V | 6 | 1 |
| 1999 Orion V | 7 | 0 |
| 1998 Orion V | 11 | 0 |
| 1997 Orion V | 8 | 0 |
| 1996 Orion V | 9 | 0 |
| 1995 Orion V | 6 | 0 |
| 1994 Orion V | 3 | 0 |
| 1993 Orion V | 2 | 0 |
| 1992 Orion V | 2 | 0 |
| 1991 Orion V | 1 | 0 |
| 1990 Orion V | 1 | 0 |
What Orion V owners complain about
Across all model years, owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA. The 2000 model year has the most, with 1.
All Orion V recalls (24)
Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Orion V, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.
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Electrical system
Daimler Buses North America Ltd. (DBNA) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Orion V and model year 2002-2010 VII buses equipped with Sure Power equalizers and DC-DC Converters. The specific potting compound used in the equalizers and convertors for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to…
Remedy: DBNA will notify owners and Sure Power representatives will change out the equalizer and/or convertor, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin during November 2014. Owners may contact DBNA at 1-905-403-1111.
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Turbo/supercharger (engine and engine cooling)
Daimler Buses North America (DBNA) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Orion V and model year 2005-2006 Orion VII transit buses equipped with John Deere Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) turbocharged engines. The turbine or compressor wheel may fail, resulting in subsequent damage to the engine and/or an oil leak.
Remedy: DBNA will notify owners. The remedy for this issue is still under development. The safety recall began on September 28, 2012. Owners may contact Daimler Buses North America at 1-800-882-8054.
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Pedal/hand lever(motorcycle) (power train)
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…
Remedy: 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…
Model years: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2008
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Equipment adaptive/mobility
Daimler buses is recalling certain model year 2000 through 2008 orion transit buses equipped with lift-u wheelchair lifts. The lifts are equipped with a logic board assembly for the wheelchair lift control box, p/nos. 373-0226 and 373-0265. The outboard ramp barrier could fold in toward a lift passenger and pinch, press, or crush the…
Remedy: Orion will notify owners and the repairs will be made by lift-u free of charge. Please see lift-u's defect report 09e-051. The safety recall began on october 29, 2009. Owners may contact lift-u at 1-209-838-2400 or…
Model years: 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
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Interior lighting
Daimler buses of north america is recalling certain model year 2002 through 2009 orion transit buses equipped with luminator horizon LED side destination signs. The connector board can corrode due to an accumulation of moisture under the connector.
Remedy: Orion will notify owners and the buses will be repaired by luminator free of charge. Please see luminator's defect report 09e-054. The safety recall is expected to begin during november 2009. Owners may contact…
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Diesel (engine and engine cooling)
Daimler buses is recalling 175 my 2004-2008 orion v and vii buses equipped with a cummins isl diesel engines. Due to various alternator cable routing configurations, it may be possible for the cable to rub on engine components.
Remedy: Daimler buses will reroute the alternator cable to ensure that the cable does not contact engine components. The recall is expected to begin on or before january 2009. Owners may contact daimler buses at 1-800-716-7466.
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Equipment adaptive/mobility
On certain transit buses equipped with lift-u wheelchair lifts, it is possible for a person to wedge their feet under the solid bar barrier linkage.
Remedy: Daimlerchrysler commercial is working with lift-u to repair these buses (please see 06e-093). Owners will receive a free repair kit along with installation instructions free of charge. Owners may contact lift-u at…
Model years: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998
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Engine (engine and engine cooling)
On certain buses equipped with detroit diesel series 50g engines, higher than expected temperatures will allow the low pressure natural gas regulator gasket to leak coolant and drip onto the terminals of the battery charging alternator.
Remedy: Detroit diesel is conducting the recall (please see 06e028000) and will repair the engines by replacing the low pressure regulator gasket free of charge. Owners may contact detroit diesel at 1-313-592-3708 or orion bus…
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Latches/locks/linkages
On certain buses, an incorrect window retention clip was installed allowing the emergency exit window to open with little outward force.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the window retention clips. The recall began on march 4, 2005. All owners have been contacted. Owners may contact orion at 1-905-403-7832.
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Hydraulic power assist system (steering)
On certain transit buses equipped with eaton power steering pumps, the port plug on the pump was incompletely sealed and leakage of the hydraulic fluid can occur which could result in a reduction in the power steering assist.
Remedy: Eaton is conducting the owner notification and remedy for this campaign. Dealers will replace the power steering pumps free of charge. Owners may contact eaton at 1-888-258-0222 or orion bus at 905-403-7832.
Model years: 2000
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Turbo/supercharger (engine and engine cooling)
On certain transit buses equipped with detroit diesel series 50 engines, the turbocharger can fail allowing lubricating oil to enter the exhaust system.
Remedy: 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…
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Structure
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." during subsequent closing of an emergency exit the moving window frame interferes with the jam frame stop located in mid span along the lower edge of the window frame.
Remedy: Dealers will install two aluminum blocks each attached by two screws. The moving window frame will not interfere with the jam frame stop. The recall began may 1, 2005. Owners should contact orion at 905-403-7832, ext.…
Model years: 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004
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Vehicle speed control
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.
Remedy: 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.
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Glass, side/rear (visibility)
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.
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…
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Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)
Vehicle description: medium duty trucks, fire trucks, and transit buses and school buses equipped with electronic throttle control/accelerator pedals supplied by williams controls industries. The weld attaching the clevis to the plate has insufficient penetration and could allow the clevis to separate from the plate.
Remedy: Dealers will replace these pedals. Owner notification began march 18, 2002. 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…
Model years: 2001
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Tie rod assembly (steering)
Vehicle description: trucks, school bus and motor home chassis, and transit buses equipped with tie rod assemblies manufactured by trw. The suspect tie rods contain 24-dl model ball sockets. Certain of the tie rod ball-socket bearings have a below-specification case depth and/or hardness, which can lead to premature wear of the socket.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the defective ball sockets and/or drag links. Owner notification began may 22, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…
Model years: 1999
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12v/24v/48v battery (electrical system)
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.
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…
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Unknown or other
Vehicle description: transit buses. Failure of a soft seat check valve in wheelchair lifts provided by lift-u, may allow the front and rear platform barriers to return to a horizontal position from the vertical position they are supposed to be locked in.
Remedy: Lift-u will replace the soft seat check valves.
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Unknown or other
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.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the existing wheel chair barrier leg mounting bolts with new bolts, nuts and washers.
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Electrical system: wiring
Vehicle description: transit buses equipped with electric engine starters. The power cables are routed across the back of the engine and fastened to the engine bulkhead. The cable may not be adequately fastened, chaffing the cable, and causing an electrical short.
Remedy: Dealers rerouted the wiring in the engine compartment.
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Pump (steering)
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…
Remedy: Dealers are inspecting and retrofitting the couplings on these pumps.
Model years: 1998
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Slack adjusters (service brakes)
Vehicle description: transit buses equipped with maxibrake i actuators, type 20, type 24, type 30, and type 36. These brake actuators do not have an overstroke indicator. This does not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 121, "air brake systems."
Remedy: Midland will provide owners with a modification kit which will make the brake system compliant.
Model years: 1996
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Filling/charging (fuel system)
Vehicle description: compressed natural gas (cng) powered transit buses. The solenoid valve or check valve could allow cng to flow when not required.
Remedy: Personnel will go to owners and replace the change out of the recalled solenoid valves.
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Unknown or other
The subject vehicles have their wheelchair barriers attached to the floor structure with a bolt threaded into the floor structure. In the case of a frontal crash, at more than 20 miles per hour, with the wheelchair position occupied, there is a possibly that the bolt threads tapped into the floor structure would strip allowing movement…
Remedy: The existing wheelchair barrier leg mounting bolts will be replaced with new bolts, washers and nuts.
Other Orion models
- VI4 complaints
- I2 complaints
- Orion2 complaints
- VII2 complaints
- II0 complaints
- Orion V0 complaints
- Orion VII0 complaints
- Orion VII Li-Ion Ess0 complaints
Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.