RoadVitals

2018 Arboc Spirit Of America Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
Recall campaignsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
1
Newest Jun 9, 2020
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
0
Open investigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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1 investigation on file

Recall campaigns

1 campaign cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

20V335000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES; ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:INTERIOR/UNDER DASH

Jun 9, 2020
113 units potentially affected
The defect: ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC (ARBOC) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Spirit of America and 2014-2019 Spirit of Liberty buses built on a Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC) chassis. The power cables on the driver's side may have been routed incorrectly, allowing them to rub against the frame or make contact with the ground cable.
The risk: The misrouted power cables may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire.
The remedy: ARBOC will notify owners, and dealers will re-route, inspect, and repair power cable wiring as needed, free of charge. The recall began June 24, 2020. Owners may contact ARBOC customer service at 1-866-953-5555. ARBOC's number for this recall is RC059801.
ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLCManufacturer number RC059801View on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
Safety investigation
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
Manufacturer communication
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and it is not a recall.

PE21002ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Trolley bus circuit breaker fires

Opened Jan 15, 2021
Closed Jul 22, 2022

In a July 7, 2020 letter, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of three separate fire incidents resulting in the total loss of eight of its Spirit of America trolley buses. These buses were manufactured by ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC (Arboc) on incomplete chassis from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation. Considering the safety concerns and substantial losses, LAWA grounded the remaining buses in its fleet. OnJanuary 15, 2021, NHTSA opened an investigation to determine if a defect in the subject vehicles exists and presents an unreasonable risk to vehicle occupants and nearby people or property. On February 24, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Arboc. On April 8, 2021, ODI received an IR response from Arboc that included information on vehicle production, consumer complaints, field reports, warranty claims, manufacturer actions, vehicle changes and other data related to the alleged defect. On June 29, 2021, Arboc sent NHTSA a copy of an investigation report/update (Investigations into LAWA Thermal Events) done by a third-party investigation firm (hired by the chassis manufacturer) that included an assessment of the alleged defect/fires. ODI also engaged in discussions with the manufacturer about the alleged defect on multiple occasions during this investigation. Upon analysis of available data, ODI has not determined the existence of a safety defect. The third-party investigation report points to the 30-amp recessed circuit breaker as the hottest point in the vehicle during the December 21, 2019 fire (first fire) and suggests that it could have been a root cause for that fire. However, that report is inconclusive.Based on available information, the causation of the two subsequent fires appears unrelated to the circuit breaker. The second fire (February 2020) appears to have been caused by technician error during repair of fleet vehicles by Arboc pursuant to TSB AR 875. Information provided by Arboc from the third-party investigation indicates that the third fire (June 3, 2020) was likely caused by the intentional or negligent acts of individuals who gained unauthorized access to LAWA property and the trolleys themselves. NHTSA is not aware of fires other than the three described above in the LAWA fleet. There are other fleets with the same make and model trolley buses. Arboc has also previously taken several actions related to the subject vehicles. On June 9, 2020, Arboc issued TSB AR875 to secure the 30-amp recessed circuit breaker. On June 17, 2020, Arboc issued Recall 20V-335 to address misrouted power cables that may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. Since June 3, 2020, there have been no reports of vehicle fires and no reports of crash, injury, or death. Based on the available information, NHTSA has closed this investigation without finding a safety-related defect. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists. The Agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources