2009 Nova Bus Nova Lfs problems, complaints & recalls

Defect: Nova Bus (Nova) is recalling certain model year 2007-2009 LFS transit buses manufactured January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2009. A power feed cable in the battery compartment may have been incorrectly routed and clipped. As a result, the battery cable may prematurely wear and short to ground.

Risk: A battery cable that shorts to ground increases the risk of a fire.

Fix: Nova notified owners, and dealers inspected the buses and correctly routed the battery power feed cable, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Nova customer service at 1-450-472-6410. Nova's number for this recall is CR1332.

Defect: Nova Bus (Nova) is recalling certain model year 2009 LFS transit buses manufactured January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2009. The affected buses may have an incorrectly wired main power relay circuit, causing the circuit protection to be defeated.

Risk: If the incorrectly wired circuit short circuits, there would be an increased risk of a fire.

Fix: Nova notified owners, and dealers corrected the main power relay circuit wiring, free of charge. Owners may contact Nova customer service at 1-450-472-6410. Nova's number for this recall is CR1366.

Defect: Nova Bus (Nova) is recalling certain model year 2009 LFS transit buses manufactured January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2009. In the affected buses, the brake hose fitting crimping ring may have been damaged and, as a result, the crimping ring may fail where the brake hose attaches to the air brake chamber.

Risk: Failure of the crimping rimgs may affect the braking performance, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nova has notified owners, and dealers inspected and replaced the damaged fittings, as necessary, free of charge. Owners may contact Nova customer service at 1-450-472-6410. Nova's number for this recall is CR1430.

Defect: Nova Bus (Nova) is recalling certain model year 2009-2010 LFS transit buses manufactured January 1, 2009, to December 31, 2010 with ZFAV132 rear axles. The affected vehicles may have been produced with rear axle half shafts that received an inadequate surface treatment which may result in axle shaft failure.

Risk: If the axle half shaft fails, the bus would be disabled, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Nova has notified the affected owners, and all affected buses have been reapired, free of charge. Owners may contact Nova customer service at 1-450-472-6410. Nova's number for this recall is BS1555.

Defect: Nova Bus is recalling certain model year 2004 and 2006-2013 LFS transit buses. Due to a programming error in the vehicle control unit, the ABS malfunction light may not illuminate if the ABS control unit loses power. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Risk: If the ABS malfunction light does not illuminate if the ABS control unit loses power, the driver would not be aware that the ABS is not functional and that the brakes may unexpectedly lock up under certain conditions when the brakes are applied, increasing the risk of crash.

Fix: Nova Bus will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the instrument cluster, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in late August 2014. Owners may contact Nova Bus customer service at 1-450-472-6410. Nova Bus' number for this recall is CR3200.

Defect: Nova Bus is recalling certain 2009-2012 model year LFS and LFS HEV transit buses equipped with Sure Power DC-DC converters containing a particular epoxy sealing, aka 'potting', compound. The specific potting compound used in the subject products for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.

Risk: Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.

Fix: Nova Bus will notify owners and dealers will inspect and replace the converters, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin in January 2014. Owners may contact Nova Bus at 1-450-472-6410. Nova Bus's numbers for this recall are CR3030, CR3031, CR3032, CR3033 and CR3034 (depending on the converter's part number and location of in the vehicle).

Defect: NOVA BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 THROUGH 2011 LFS 40 FT AND LFS 60 FT TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 31, 2009, THROUGH FEBRUARY 11, 2011. AN INSUFFICIENT TORQUE WAS APPLIED TO THE DRAG LINK ATTACHMENT BOLTS DURING PRODUCTION. THE DRAG LINK COULD BECOME DETACHED FROM THE STEERING LINKAGE, CAUSING A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Risk: LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Fix: DEALERS WILL PROVIDE OWNERS THE CORRECT DOCUMENTATION TO VERIFY THE TORQUE VALUES FOR THE DRAG LINK AND TO CORRECT THE DRAG LINK IF NECESSARY. AT THE CUSTOMER'S OPTION, A DEALER CAN PERFORM THE CORRECT TORQUE VALUE FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 16, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NOVA BUS AT 1-450-472-6410.

Defect: NOVA BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ATC (AUTOMATIC TRACTION CONTROL) SYSTEM AND V-BEA MULTIPLEXING SYSTEM MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 2, 2007 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010. THE ATC SYSTEM MAY INADVERTENTLY ACTIVATE WHENEVER THE PARKING BRAKE OR THE BRAKE INTERLOCK IS APPLIED, SINCE THE VEHICLE'S MULTIPLEX PROGRAM DID NOT CORRECTLY SEND THE PARKING BRAKE OR INTERLOCK SIGNAL TO THE ATC SYSTEM. THE ATC SYSTEM COULD MISINTERPRET THIS SITUATION AS WHEEL SPIN, SUBSEQUE

Risk: THE VEHICLE MAY MOVE INADVERTENTLY EVEN WHEN THE PARKING BRAKE IS APPLIED INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Fix: DEALERS WILL REPROGRAM THE SYSTEM AND THE ENGINE'S ECU FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 22, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NOVA BUS AT 450-472-6410.

Defect: NOVA BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 NOVA LFS 40 FT AND MODEL YEAR 2010 NOVA LFS 60 FT T-DRIVE TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 27, 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 11, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISL OR ISB ENGINES. THE BOLTS ON THE ENGINE CRADLE WERE NOT TORQUED ACCORDING TO APPROPRIATE SPECIFICATIONS.

Risk: THE BOLTS CAN BE WORN PREMATURELY AND BREAK OFF, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Fix: NOVA BUS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 1, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NOVA BUS AT 1-450-472-6410.

Defect: NOVA BUS HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2010 LFS BUSES EQUIPPED WITH MODINE ROOF MOUNTED RADIATOR. THE WRONG TYPE OF O-RING WAS INSTALLED AT THE LOCATIONS BY THE RADIATOR MANUFACTURER, MODINE. THE O-RINGS MUST BE VITON TYPE O-RINGS.

Risk: DETERIORATION OF THESE O-RINGS MAY OCCUR AND LEAKING OR SEEPAGE OF HYDRAULIC OIL.

Fix: DEALERS WILL INSTALL VITON O-RINGS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 11, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NOVA BUS AT 450-472-6410.

Defect: NOVA BUS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 LFS 40 FOOT TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ENGINES. IMPROPER FUEL UNIT WAS INSTALLED.

Risk: THE MANUFACTURER HAS NOT YET PROVIDED A CONSEQUENCE FOR THIS CAMPAIGN.

Fix: NOVA BUS IS WORKING WITH CUMMINS AND CUMMINS IS HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-343-7357.