RoadVitals

2018 Proterra Catalyst Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that 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
Recall campaignsA 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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Newest Nov 30, 2022
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
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Open 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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1 investigation on file

Recall campaigns

9 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

22V887000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

Nov 30, 2022
300 units potentially affected
The defect: Proterra Operation Company, Inc. (Proterra) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Catalyst transit buses. One or more battery packs may allow liquid to leak into and accumulate in the battery pack enclosure.
The risk: The accumulation of liquid inside the battery pack enclosure increases the risk of a fire.
The remedy: Proterra will update software, inspect, and replace the battery pack, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed November 6, 2023. Owners may contact Proterra's customer service at 1-864-438-0000.
Proterra Operating Company, Inc.View on NHTSA.gov
22V114000

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

Feb 28, 2022
724 units potentially affected
The defect: Proterra, Inc. (Proterra) is recalling certain 2017-2019 35 foot Catalyst E2, 2017-2019 40 foot E2, 2020-2021 35 foot RR, 2019-2020 40 foot RR, 2019-2022 40 foot ZX5, and 2020-2022 35 foot ZX5 buses. The plexus adhesive between the torque limiter plate and the bus body may be insufficient, causing the bolts that secure the steering gearbox to loosen.
The risk: A loose steering gearbox can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Dealers will install a mechanical fastener and new bolts on the steering gearbox, and install a new torque plate, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2022. Owners may contact Proterra's customer service at 1-864-438-0000.
Proterra, Inc.Manufacturer number SC-22-040View on NHTSA.gov
20V664000

STEERING:GEAR BOX (OTHER THAN RACK AND PINION)

Oct 28, 2020
5 units potentially affected
The defect: Proterra Inc. (Proterra) is recalling certain 2018-2020 35 foot and 40 foot Catalyst buses. Lack of plexus adhesive between the torque plate and the vehicle chassis may cause the bolts securing the steering gear box to loosen.
The risk: An unsecured steering gear box could cause the driver to lose the ability to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of crash or injury.
The remedy: Proterra will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the steering gear mounting bolts and the plexus adhesive layer between the torque plate and the chassis. If the plexus adhesive layer is missing or insufficient, the components will be repaired, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2020. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000. Proterra's number for this recall is SC-20-154.
Proterra Inc.Manufacturer number SC-20-154View on NHTSA.gov
19V460000

STRUCTURE:EMERGENCY:ESCAPE/EGRESS/EXIT

Jun 14, 2019
21 units potentially affected
The defect: Proterra, Inc. (Proterra) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Catalyst buses equipped with a certain batch of glass roof hatches. Temperature and vibration stresses may cause the tempered glass roof hatch to shatter.
The risk: If the tempered glass roof hatch shatters, glass fragments may fall onto passengers, increasing the risk of an injury.
The remedy: Proterra will notify owners, and the glass hatch manufacturer will provide replacement hatch lids, free of charge. The recall began August 13, 2019. Owners may contact Proterra at 1-864-438-0000. Proterra's number for this recall is SC-19-79.
Proterra Inc.Manufacturer number SC-19-79View on NHTSA.gov
19V402000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:CHECK VALVE

May 30, 2019
147 units potentially affected
The defect: Proterra, Inc. (Proterra) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Catalyst buses. The vehicles are equipped with swivel valves that may insufficiently protect the air brake system from an air leak between the service reservoir and the source of air pressure. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
The risk: If the swivel valves are unable to protect the air brake system against loss of air pressure, this may lead to service brake failure and the possibility for the uncontrolled application of the safety brake. Either condition increases the risk of crash.
The remedy: Proterra will notify owners, and will replace the swivel valve with a check valve that is sufficient to protect the air brake system, free of charge. The recall began July 26, 2019. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000.
Proterra Inc.View on NHTSA.gov
19V283000

SERVICE BRAKES

Apr 9, 2019
39 units potentially affected
The defect: Proterra, Inc. (Proterra) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Catalyst 40 buses equipped with an optional tow fitting and airline that allows a tow truck to operate the rear brakes on the vehicle. The mesh cap covering the airline for the tow fitting can be clogged with road debris in inclement weather, possibly resulting in a build up of air pressure in the rear brake system.
The risk: A build up of air pressure can cause the brakes to drag and possibly overheat, increasing the risk of fire.
The remedy: Proterra will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional shield to the tow fitting that protects the mesh cap, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2019. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000.
Proterra Inc.View on NHTSA.gov
19V062000

SUSPENSION:FRONT; TIRES

Jan 30, 2019
310 units potentially affected
The defect: Proterra Inc., (Proterra) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Catalyst 40 and 35 transit buses. The affected vehicles are equipped with a four point height control system that may cause a load imbalance, overloading the front tires.
The risk: An overloaded front tire may fail unexpectedly, increasing the risk of crash.
The remedy: Proterra will notify owners, and dealers will convert the current four point ride height system into a three point system to prevent the front tires from being overloaded, free of charge. The recall began March 26, 2019. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000.
Proterra Inc.View on NHTSA.gov
19V061000

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:RESERVOIR/TANK

Jan 29, 2019
55 units potentially affected
The defect: Proterra Inc., (Proterra) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Catalyst 40 transit buses. The affected vehicles lack a Graham White air brake supply reservoir, possibly resulting in long term moisture build up in the air brake system. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."
The risk: Built-up of moisture in the air brake system may lead to brake failure, increasing the risk of crash.
The remedy: Proterra will notify owners, and dealers will install a supply reservoir with a drain between the air dryer and the air supply manifold, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 28, 2019. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000.
Proterra Inc.View on NHTSA.gov
19V034000

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Jan 16, 2019
184 units potentially affected
The defect: Proterra, Inc is recalling certain 2015-2018 Catalyst 40, and Catalyst 35 buses. The certification label may list an incorrect gross front axle weight rating and/or incorrect tire pressures. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."
The risk: If the tire pressure is understated, an underinflated tire may result in an increased risk of tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Proterra will notify owners, and dealers will replace the certification labels with correct information for all affected customers, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2019. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000.
Proterra Inc.View on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A 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.
Safety investigation
NHTSA 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.
Manufacturer communication
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.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and it is not a recall.

RQ25001OpenRecall Query

Remedy Effectiveness of Recall 22V887

Opened Jun 27, 2025

In November 2022, Proterra Operating Company, Inc. (Proterra) filed a safety recall (NHTSA recall 22V887) covering nineteen 2017-2019 Proterra Catalyst transit buses to address the potential of liquid accumulation in the 400-volt battery packs, increasing the risk of a fire. On December 16, 2022, Proterra mailed an interim owner notification letter stating that Proterra would physically inspect and analyze each recalled battery pack.In October 2023, Proterra amended their filing to now cover 300 vehicles, with a final remedy plan of updating the battery monitoring software. According to the final remedy documents from Proterra, should liquid be detected within the battery pack, the updated software would illuminate a warning light in the driver's dash display, prevent the batteries from being charged, and reduce the maximum speed of the buses.As of the most recent recall completion rate report, 109 of the 300 buses (36.3%) have received the software update. In August 2023, Proterra declared bankruptcy, with its the three major business areas going to three separate companies.Phoenix Motorcars assumed liability for recall 22V887. On June 5, 2025, a fire occurred at the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA) decommissioning lot.Local officials stated that the fire initiated in a battery pack of one of the Proterra buses. The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) is opening this Recall Query (RQ) to evaluate the remedy effectiveness of recall 22V887 and to further understand the effects of nearly two-thirds of the affected population having not yet received the recall remedy.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:TRACTION BATTERY

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources