RoadVitals

Orion Recalls, Complaints & Safety Data

NHTSA safety recalls, owner-reported complaints and investigations, by model and model year · 1977–2012

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 Orion model year it names.
12
Safety recallsDistinct NHTSA recall campaigns covering at least one Orion model year. One campaign can cover several models and many model years; it is counted once here.
60
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.
8
Models coveredModels with at least one model year that has enough NHTSA data to publish.
10
36 model years

Overview

Our database holds 12 NHTSA owner-reported complaints filed against Orion vehicles. Our database also holds 60 safety recall campaigns and 8 NHTSA investigations covering at least one Orion model year.

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

Orion models

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

Orion models with published safety data
ModelModel yearsComplaintsRecalls
Vi1995–2005415
I1977–199423
V1990–2008225
Vii2001–2012228
Ii1983–2004010
Orion V199601
Orion Vii2002–200403
Orion Vii Li-Ion Ess200601
Orion Vii Li-Ion Hybrid2008–201101
Suburban1979–198801

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 Orion 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

SEATSDaimler Buses North America (DBNA) is recalling certain model year 2010-2012 Orion VII transit buses manufactured April 5, 2010, to October 31, 2012, equipped with certain Recaro Ergo-M Commercial Bus Driver Seats. The affected seats have J-Brackets that may be missing welds which could allow the seat belt anchorage assembly to separate from the J-Bracket.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINEDaimler Buses North America (DBNA) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Orion VII natural gas-powered transit buses manufactured January 1, 2007, to October 1, 2012. Excessive engine crankcase pressures may cause the 90-degree elbow of the vent tube assembly to detach from the crankcase ventilation breather, possibly allowing engine oil to come into contact with hot surfaces.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINEDaimler Buses North America (DBNA) is recalling certain model year 2007-2012 Orion VII transit buses manufactured January 2007 through October 2012 equipped with certain Cummins Westport Model ISL G engines. Condensation in the intake manifold may freeze during cold weather conditions and interfere with the proper operation of the intake manifold pressure sensor.

13V476000V, Vii

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMDaimler Buses North America Ltd. (DBNA) is recalling certain model year 2003-2008 Orion V and model year 2002-2010 VII buses equipped with Sure Power equalizers and DC-DC Converters. The specific potting compound used in the equalizers and convertors for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.

PARKING BRAKE:DRIVELINE:AIR:CHAMBERDaimler Buses North America (DBNA) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Orion VII transit buses equipped with disc brakes using MGM brake components. In the affected vehicles, the brake chambers may leak pressure allowing the parking brake to drag when it is supposed to be released. Brake dragging could lead to overheated brake components.

12V447000V, Vii

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:OTHER FUEL TYPES:TURBO/SUPERCHARGERDaimler Buses North America (DBNA) is recalling certain model year 2004-2008 Orion V and model year 2005-2006 Orion VII transit buses equipped with John Deere Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) turbocharged engines. The turbine or compressor wheel may fail, resulting in subsequent damage to the engine and/or an oil leak.

11V523000Orion Vii Li-Ion Ess, Orion Vii Li-Ion Hybrid

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERYDAIMLER BUSES IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 ORION VII LI-ION HYBRID TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 2008 THROUGH AUGUST 2011 AND MODEL YEAR 2006 ORION VII LI-ION ESS TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 2006 THROUGH MAY 2007, CONTAINS BAE SYSTEMS (BAE) LITHIUM ION ENERGY STORAGE SYSTEM (ESS). OVER TIME, PARTICULATE DEBRIS CAN ACCUMULATE IN THE HYBRID SYSTEM'S LI-ION STORAGE SYSTEM (LI-ION ESS). ACCUMULATED DEBRIS IN CONJUNCTION WITH MOISTURE CAN BREACH THE ELECTRICAL ISOLATION OF THE HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY PACK. A CONDUCTIVE PATH CAN BE CREATED IF THE ELECTRICAL ISOLATION IS BREACHED AT BOTH ENDS OF THE BATTERY.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGDAIMLER BUSES NORTH AMERICA (DBNA) IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 ORION VII TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 2010 THROUGH JANUARY 2011, EQUIPPED WITH A CUMMINS ISB, ISX, ISC, OR ISL DIESEL ENGINE. THE V-BAND CLAMP ASSEMBLY, PART NUMBERS Q187684, Q187685, AND Q187686, USED TO CONNECT THE INLET AND OUTLET CONE SECTIONS TO THE DIESEL OXIDATION CATALYST (DOC)/DIESEL PARTICULATE FILTER (DPF) INCLUDE A T-BOLT WHICH CAN FRACTURE AND FAIL WHEN SUBJECTED TO STRESS OR LOAD. A FRACTURE OR FAILURE OF THE T-BOLT MAY CAUSE THE CLAMP TO LOOSEN AND THE INLET OR OUTLET SECTIONS ATTACHED TO THE DOC/DPF HOUSING TO DISCONNECT.

Browse by model year

Every year with at least one publishable Orion model year

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .