RoadVitals

2021 Motiv F-59 School Bus

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Safety recallsA 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.
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Latest Mar 3, 2025
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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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2021 Motiv F-59 School Bus. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns 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
25V138000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING; VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:THROTTLE:THROTTLE POSITION SENSOR (TPS)

Mar 3, 2025
40 units potentially affected
The defect: Motiv Power Systems, Inc. (Motiv) is recalling certain 2017-2020 E-450 and F-59 school buses with Gen 4 EPIC powertrain, and 2020-2023 E-450, F-59, and F-53 school buses with a Gen 5 EPIC powertrain. A throttle position sensor (TPS) power wire connector pin may loosen, causing a loss of signal to the powertrain control module and a loss of drive power.
The risk: Loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Motiv field support technicians will inspect and repair, or replace the PCM connector, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 23, 2025. Owners may contact Motiv customer service at 1-650-458-4804.
Motiv Power SystemsView on NHTSA.gov
24V699000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Sep 19, 2024
13 units potentially affected
The defect: Motiv Power Systems, Inc. (Motiv) is recalling certain 2017-2020 F-59 school buses equipped with a Motiv Gen 4 EPIC and 2020-2023 F-59 school buses equipped with a Motiv Gen 5 EPIC powertrain. The wiring harness may be missing a heat shrink insulator and retention clip. The 12-volt control wires may deteriorate and loosen, causing a loss of connection to the high voltage (HV) batteries and drive power.
The risk: A loss of drive power increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Motiv field support technicians will inspect and correct or replace any 12-volt control wires showing signs of fatigue, cracking, or improper retention or protection as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 21, 2024. Owners may contact Motiv customer service at 1-650-458-4804.
Motiv Power SystemsView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

TSB-2025-0004

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Software release 3.4.0.A is an over-the-air (OTA) quality action to improve driver experience, vehicle performance, and vehicle diagnostics. Summary of Changes • Digital display firmware upgrade. • Improve digital display menu navigation. • Driver feedback for pending gear selection. • Improved cooling system diagnostics and performance. • Improved HV battery diagnostics. • Improved fault code reporting. • Improved efuse trip handing on MY2024 EPIC S/SL and MY2025 S/SL vehicles.

Motiv TSB-Ring Terminal

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM

Motiv Power Systems, Inc. has determined that on certain vehicles converted to a Motiv Gen 4 E-450, F-59 and Gen 5 F-59 and F-53 model powertrain, 12-volt power wires crimped to a ring terminal on the master disconnect switch under the hood could deteriorate over time and lose connection from the crimp barrel resulting in a loss of 12-volt control power to the HV batteries. This, in turn could result in a loss of vehicle propulsion.

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Motiv F-59 School Bus by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2021Viewing020—
2018020—
2017020—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.