2021 Proterra Catalyst problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Electrical System (1)
Safety recalls (5)
Electrical System 2024-09-06 · campaign 24V655000 · 483 vehicles
Defect: Phoenix Motorcars (Phoenix) is recalling certain 2019-2021 800V Catalyst and 2020-2022 ZX5 transit buses. The vehicle controller software may allow the electrical circuit for the radiator fan to overheat.
Risk: Electrical circuits that overheat increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will update the vehicle software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 15, 2024. Owners may contact Phoenix customer service at 1-909-987-0815.
Electrical System 2023-10-17 · campaign 23V697000 · 238 vehicles
Defect: Proterra Operating Company, Inc. (Proterra) is recalling certain 2019-2022 40' and 35' Catalyst 800V transit buses equipped with ProDrive 1.0, and 40' and 35' ZX5 800V transit buses equipped with ProDrive 1.0. A transistor inside the inverter may overheat and fail, which can result in a loss of power steering and drive power.
Risk: A loss of power steering and/or drive power increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the inverter, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 16, 2023. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000.
Visibility:windshield Wiper/Washer:motor 2023-02-13 · campaign 23V078000 · 252 vehicles
Defect: Proterra Operating Company, Inc. (Proterra) is recalling certain 2020-2022 35" Catalyst, 35" ZX5, and 40" ZX5 vehicles. The windshield wiper motors may operate intermittently or may fail to operate. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 104, "Windshield Wiping and Washing Systems."
Risk: Inoperative windshield wipers can reduce visibility in certain driving conditions, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the wiper motors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 3, 2023. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000.
Parking Brake 2022-11-18 · campaign 22V855000 · 386 vehicles
Defect: Proterra Operating Company, Inc. (Proterra) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Catalyst and 2019-2022 ZX5 transit buses. Back pressure in the shared air exhaust for the pneumatic ride height system and parking brake control valve may engage the parking brake while the vehicle is in motion.
Risk: Unintentional engagement of the parking brake increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Proterra will install a redesigned air circuit, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 21, 2022. Owners may contact Proterra's customer service at 1-864-438-0000.
Steering:gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion) 2022-02-28 · campaign 22V114000 · 724 vehicles
Defect: Proterra, Inc. (Proterra) is recalling certain 2017-2019 35 foot Catalyst E2, 2017-2019 40 foot E2, 2020-2021 35 foot RR, 2019-2020 40 foot RR, 2019-2022 40 foot ZX5, and 2020-2022 35 foot ZX5 buses. The plexus adhesive between the torque limiter plate and the bus body may be insufficient, causing the bolts that secure the steering gearbox to loosen.
Risk: A loose steering gearbox can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a mechanical fastener and new bolts on the steering gearbox, and install a new torque plate, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2022. Owners may contact Proterra's customer service at 1-864-438-0000.
Service bulletins (55)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan 2024-05-16 · SC-24-009 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
software update for the 800vrrs vehicle and body software to reduce the radiator fan current draw to 80%. additionally corrects a bug to properly route esm faults away from the coolant light icon.
Electrical System 2024-01-23 · SC-23-176 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
bms software update to the latest version. it improves current sensors performance and adjusts the isolation fault threshold value.
Suspension 2023-12-11 · SC-23-054 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
relocation of the air compressors intake as well as adding a preliminary filter at the top of the air intake.
Electrical System 2023-11-27 · SC-23-062 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the procedure describes the process of updating the customer can gateway to improve data retrieval on specific customer its equipment on zx5 vehicles.
Engine 2023-11-18 · SC-23-082 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this procedure adds improved caps to the coolant system for 800v buses.
Power Train 2023-10-14 · SC-23-135 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
this procedure describes the process for updating the 800vrr prodrive vehicle, powertrain, body controller, esm and charge controller software to buscom 2.0.
Showing the 6 most recent of 55 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-09-25 · Electrical System · 15,000 mi“the contact called on behalf of the university that owns several 2021 proterra catalyst transit bus. the university received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 23v697000 (electrical system); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. the local dealer was contacted, and it was confirmed that the part was not available. the contac…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.