RoadVitals

1998 Nova Bus Rts

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.
0
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.
3
Latest Feb 1, 2007
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 1998 Nova Bus Rts. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 3 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

3 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
07V029000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGER

Feb 1, 2007
900 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 50 ENGINES, THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULE (ECM) WILL NEED TO BE REPROGRAMMED TO ACTIVATE THE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR.
The risk: ENGINE MALFUNCTION COULD POSSIBLY LEAD TO ENGINE AND VEHICLE DAMAGE AND POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy: NOVABUS IS WORKING WITH DETROIT DIESEL TO REPROGRAM THE ENGINES (PLEASE SEE 05E050). THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 26, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL AT 1-313-592-3708 OR NOVABUS AT 1-450-472-6410.
NOVA BUS INCORPORATEDView on NHTSA.gov
02V148000

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

May 30, 2002
2,561 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES WITH AN OPTION FOR DECELERATION LIGHTS DO NOT MEET ALL THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE DECELERATION LIGHTS ARE LOCATED ON THE REAR CENTER OF THE BUS, ABOVE THE REAR ENGINE DOOR. THEY ARE PROVIDED AS A MEANS OF ALERTING VEHICLES TRAVELING BEHIND THE BUS THAT IT IS SLOWING DOWN AND MAY BE PREPARING TO STOP. ALSO, THE DRIVER ACTIVATED, FLASHING HOODLUM LIGHTS, IS TO ALERT THE PUBLIC/POLICE TO A DANGEROUS SITUATION OCCURRING IN THE BUS FOR WHICH THE DRIVER REQUIRES ASSISTANCE. TWO OF THESE LIGHTS ARE LOCATED ON THE FRONT OF THE BUS AT EACH END OF THE DESTINATION SIGN AND TWO AT THE REAR OF THE BUS BELOW THE LEVEL OF THE ROOF MARKER LIGHTS. THEY FLASH IN AN ALTERNATING PATTERN FROM SIDE TO SIDE. THE STANDARD REQUIRES THAT THESE LAMPS SHALL BE WIRED TO BE STEADY BURNING.
The risk: THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE STANDARD.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL RETROFIT THESE BUSES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 19, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NOVABUS AT 1-505-347-2011.
NOVA BUS INCORPORATEDManufacturer number 02-002View on NHTSA.gov
01V321001

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

Oct 9, 2001
43 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ADHESIVELY BONDED ALUMINUM BUS DOOR PANELS USED IN PASSENGER DOORWAYS ON TRANSIT AND LIGHT AND MEDIUM DUTY BUSES SUPPLIED BY VAPOR CORPORATION. DUE TO AN IMPERFECT BONDING OF THE DOOR PANEL SKIN TO THE PANEL FRAME, ENVIRONMENTAL MOISTURE MAY INFILTRATE REGIONS OF IMPERFECT BONDING AND CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE FRAME AND DOOR PANEL.
The risk: THE DOOR SEPARATES AND FALLS OFF, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
The remedy: VAPOR CORPORATION WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS TO HAVE THEIR BUSES INSPECTED AND WILL INSTALL MECHANICAL FASTENERS TO ATTACH THE SKINS TO THE FRAME ELEMENTS. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VAPOR CORPORATION AT 847-967-8300 OR NOVABUS AT 1-505-347-7349.
NOVA BUS INCORPORATEDManufacturer number 02-001View 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.

99009

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DRUM:SHOES/LININGS

SUBJECT REGARDING ABEX BRAKE LINING IDENTIFICATION FOR 1998 - 1999 RTS BUSES WITH S-CAM BRAKES AND ABEX LININGS. *TT

99007

SUBJECT REGARDING 1998 AND 1999 PARTS MANUAL CORRECTIONS. *TT

99004

POWER TRAIN:AXLE ASSEMBLY

THIS BULLETIN PERTAINS TO RIDE HEIGHT MEASUREMENTS WHICH WERE TAKEN BETWEEN THE LOWER SURFACE OF THE AXLE JOUNCE BUMPER AND THE CENTER OF THE JOUNCE PLATES ON THE AXLE HOUSING. *TT

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

Nova Bus Rts by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001030—
2000050—
1999030—
1998Viewing030—
1997030—
1996020—
1995020—
1994020—

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.