RoadVitals

2003 Orion Orion Vii

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 Nov 12, 2004
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.
2
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 2003 Orion Orion Vii. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 NHTSA investigations name it.

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
04V543000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

Nov 12, 2004
545 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL CONTAINERS, THE THERMAL PROPERTIES OF THE ORIGINAL EXHAUST BLANKET WERE INSUFFICIENTLY ACHIEVED WITH THE COMPONENT SUPPLIED. THE PERFORMANCE OF THE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE AND THE EXHAUST BLANKET WERE INCORRECTLY EVALUATED FOR THE SUPPLIED BLANKET.
The risk: THE EXHAUST BLANKET CAN BE DEGRADED AND LOSE INSULATING VALUE. SURROUNDING COMPONENTS CAN DEGRADE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT AND CAN MALFUNCTION DUE TO THE EFFECT ON WIRES AND HOSES.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A REPLACEMENT EXHAUST BLANKET. THE RECALL BEGAN JULY 17, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT ORION AT 905-403-7832
ORION BUS INDUSTRIES LTD.View on NHTSA.gov
04V544000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Nov 11, 2004
663 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS OR DIESEL ENGINES, THE HYDRAULIC COOLING FAN MOTOR PIPES CAN LEAK.
The risk: A HYDRAULIC LEAK WHICH IS NOT ATTENDED TO READILY MAY CONTINUE TO PROVIDE EXPOSED OIL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HYDRAULIC PIPES WITH FLEXIBLE HOSES. AN INTERIM OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER WAS MAILED ON MAY 17, 2005. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 30, 2005. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT ORION AT 905-403-7832.
ORION BUS INDUSTRIES LTD.View on NHTSA.gov
04E038000

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE

May 20, 2004
2,030 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL CONTAINERS, MODEL ALT823D, P/N 1273147, EQUIPPED ON CERTAIN 2003 AND 2004 ORION VII BUSES. THE NVG CONTAINER'S PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES FAIL TO TIMELY AND FULLY ACTIVATE AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 304, COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL CONTAINER INTEGRITY.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE FIRE WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM ROOF ENCLOSURE REMOVED OR OPENED, THE FUEL CONTAINER'S PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES MAY NOT ACTIVATE AS THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DO AND THE FUEL CONTAINER COULD RUPTURE AND EXPLODE. SUCH AN EXPLOSION, IF IT WERE TO OCCUR, COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH TO OCCUPANTS OF THE BUS OR TO PERSONS OUTSIDE THE BUS.
The remedy: STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES WILL REPLACE THE PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES IS EXPECTED TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF AFFECTED ORION VII BUSES IN JUNE 2004. THE RECALL BEGAN FEBRUARY 2005.
STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES INDUSTRIESView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE04071ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

DETERIORATING EXHAUST THERMAL BLANKET

Opened Oct 13, 2004
Closed Jan 25, 2005

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI VISITED A TRANSIT FLEET FACILITY AND NOTICED A BUS THAT HAD EXPERIENCED AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE.FURTHER EXAMINATION OF OTHER BUSES INDICATED THAT THE EXHAUST SYSTEM THERMAL BLANKETS WERE DETERIORATING AND MAY HAVE BEEN RESPONSIBLE FOR THE THERMAL EVENT.AS A RESULT OF ODI?S INVESTIGATION, ORION HAS AGREED TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE THERMAL BLANKETS WITH BLANKETS HAVING A HIGHER THERMAL RATING AND DESIGNED TO PROVIDE A SLIP-OVERLAP FIT BETWEEN THE THREE BLANKETS. THIS ALLOWS MAXIMUM COVERAGE OF THE EXHAUST SYSTEM BY THE THERMAL BLANKETS.A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED.ORION'S PROPOSED ACTIONRESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEMLed to recall 04V543000
PE03048ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

OVERHEATED EXHAUST COMPONENTS

Opened Oct 17, 2003
Closed Feb 6, 2004

ORION BUS IS UNAWARE OF ANYOTHER OWNER REPORTS OF EXHAUST SYSTEM FLEX PIPE FAILURES AND BELIEVES THAT THE REPORTED FAILUREIS A SINGLE, ISOLATED INCIDENT.THE MANUFACTURER OF THE FLEX PIPE STATED THAT THEY HAVE SOLD 250,OOO UNITSAND NO OTHERFAILURES HAVE BEEN REPORTED.THEY BELIEVE THE COMPLAINT VEHICLE WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT. BASED ON ORION'S DATA, ODI FIELD WORK,AND THE LACK OF ANY OTHER IDENTIFED FAILURES, A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND DOES NOT EXIST AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES ARE UNWARRANTED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXIST.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THE VEHICLES IN THE FUTURE IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES.ODI WILL CONTINUE TO MONITOR FIELD REPORTS AND TAKE APPROPRIATE ACTION IF INDICATED.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM:MANIFOLD/HEADER/MUFFLER/TAIL PIPE

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Orion Orion Vii by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004022—
2003Viewing032—
2002023—

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.