RoadVitals

Optima Recalls, Complaints & Safety Data

NHTSA safety recalls, owner-reported complaints and investigations, by model and model year · 1998–2009

Data refreshed

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. This total counts a complaint once for each Optima model year it names.
9
Safety recallsDistinct NHTSA recall campaigns covering at least one Optima model year. One campaign can cover several models and many model years; it is counted once here.
11
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.
0
Models coveredModels with at least one model year that has enough NHTSA data to publish.
5
12 model years

Overview

Our database holds 9 NHTSA owner-reported complaints filed against Optima vehicles. Our database also holds 11 safety recall campaigns covering at least one Optima model year.

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

Optima models

Ordered by total owner-reported complaint volume, which is not a ranking of quality

Optima models with published safety data
ModelModel yearsComplaintsRecalls
Opus2000–200994
Ah-281998–200503
Opus 291998–200505
Opus 341998–200505
RT-521998–200301

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. Complaint totals count a report once for each model year it names; recall totals count a campaign once per model.

Recently issued recalls

The 8 newest campaigns covering a Optima vehicle in our database

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
13V457000Opus

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMNorth American Bus Industries (NABI) is recalling certain model year 2000-2011 LFW, CLFW, BRT, 2007-2009 Blue Bird L4RE, and 2000-2009 Optima Opus transit buses equipped with Sure Power battery equalizers containing a particular epoxy sealing, aka 'potting', compound. The specific potting compound used in the subject products for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.

12V189000Opus

STEERING:COLUMNNORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES (NABI) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007-2009 OPTIMA OPUS29 AND OPUS34 MODEL TRANSIT BUSES, MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 8, 2007, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 21, 2009. THE PINCH BOLTS IN THE STEERING COLUMN SHAFT MAY LOOSEN TO THE EXTENT THAT THEY MAY FALL OUT ALLOWING THE STEERING SHAFT TO SEPARATE.

09V495000Opus

EQUIPMENTNORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES, INC. (NABI) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2002 THROUGH 2009 TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 2002, AND SEPTEMBER 15, 2009, AND EQUIPPED WITH LUMINATOR HORIZON LED SIDE DESTINATION SIGNS. THE CONNECTOR BOARD CAN CORRODE DUE TO AN ACCUMULATION OF MOISTURE UNDER THE CONNECTOR.

07V206000Opus

SERVICE BRAKES, AIRON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH GRAHAM WHITE AIR DRYERS, THE AIR DRYER TIMER MODULES MAY ALLOW SUFFICIENT QUANTITIES OF MOISTURE TO ENTER AND AFFECT THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE AIR BRAKE SYSTEM.

05V4050003 Optima models

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMPON CERTAIN TRANSIT VEHICLES AND TROLLEYS EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB-02 DIESEL ENGINES BUILT WITH EMC CONTROLLED FUEL LIFT PUMPS. ERRATIC VOLTAGE SUPPLY TO THE FUEL LIFT PUMP CAUSES PREMATURE ELECTRIC BRUSH WEAR INTERNAL TO THE FUEL LIFT PUMP. THIS PREMATURE WEAR COULD RESULT IN FUEL LIFT PUMP FAILURE AND IN SOME CASES MAY CAUSE AN ENGINE STALL CONDITION.

05V358000Opus 29, Opus 34

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLYON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE HYDRAULIC LINE COMING FROM THE RADIATOR FAN MOTOR TO THE CAC MOTOR IS RUBBING ON THE CHASSIS.

05V167000Opus 29, Opus 34

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEMON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES WITH CUMMINS ISB02 ENGINES, THE HYDRAULIC LINE COMING OFF OF THE POWER STEERING PUMP IS RUBBING ON TOP OF THE AIR GOVERNOR.

05V1100004 Optima models

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESELON TROLLEYS AND TRANSIT COACHES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB DIESEL ENGINES, THE FUEL LIFT PUMP COULD FAIL IN A MANNER WHICH RESULTS IN ENGINE FUEL STARVATION, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A STALL CONDITION. POTENTIAL LIFT PUMP FAILURE MODES INCLUDE: BRUSH WEAR OUT, BUSHING FAILURE, ROTOR TAB INSERT FAILURE, OR ANY OTHER FAILURE MODE THAT WOULD CAUSE THE FUEL PUMPING ELEMENT TO STOP SPINNING.

Browse by model year

Every year with at least one publishable Optima model year

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .