NHTSA Investigation PE04003

BRAKES FAIL TO RELEASE, BUS JACK-KNIFES

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY A TRANSIT FLEET, WHICH INFORMED ODI IN NOVEMBER, 2003, THAT THEY WERE EXPERIENCING BRAKE PROBLEMS ON THEIR HIGH FLOOR ARTICULATING STYLE BUSES.IN THE LETTER, THE FLEET STATED THAT THEY HAD EXPERIENCED OVER 50 INCIDENTS WHERE THE REAR BRAKES FAILED TO RELEASE DURING MORNING PULLOUT FROM THEIR PARKING LOCATION.THEY ALLEGED THAT THERE HAD BEEN THREE CRASHES RESULTING IN PROPERTY DAMGE AS THE RESULT OF THIS STICKING BRAKE PHENOMENON.THE CRASHES ORIGINATE WHEN THE MIDDLE AXLE BRAKES FAIL TO RELEASE AND THE REAR ENGINE VEHICLE PUSHES THE MIDDLE AXLE RESULTING IN A JACK-KNIFE CONDITION OF THE ARTICULATED BUS. AS A RESULT OF ODI'SINVESTIGATION, NEW FLYER HAS AGREED TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL AND CORRECT THIS CONDITION ON ALL AFFECTED BUSES.THE ACTION TAKEN BY NEW FLYER IS SUFFICIENT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. A COPY OF THE RECALLIS ATTACHED.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

An investigation is a separate record from a recall and from a manufacturer communication. A manufacturer campaign to repair a safety defect or a failure to meet a federal safety standard.