Brakes fail to release, bus jack-knifes

An NHTSA Preliminary Evaluation into New Flyer vehicles. Closed 30 April 2004.

Investigation
PE04003
Type
Preliminary Evaluation
Opened
8 January 2004
Closed
30 April 2004

What NHTSA investigated

This investigation was prompted by a transit fleet, which informed odi in november, 2003, that they were experiencing brake problems on their high floor articulating style buses.in the letter, the fleet stated that they had experienced over 50 incidents where the rear brakes failed to release during morning pullout from their parking location.they alleged that there had been three crashes resulting in property damge as the result of this sticking brake phenomenon.the crashes originate when the middle axle brakes fail to release and the rear engine vehicle pushes the middle axle resulting in a jack-knife condition of the articulated bus. As a result of odi'sinvestigation, new flyer has agreed to initiate a safety recall and correct this condition on all affected buses.the action taken by new flyer is sufficient to resolve the issue raised by this investigation. A copy of the recallis attached.accordingly, this investigation is closed.

The recall that followed

  1. New Flyer — Wheels04V0420002 February 2004782 vehicles

Vehicles covered

MakeModelModel years
New FlyerD60HF1996–2003

Source

From NHTSA’s investigation file, rebuilt daily. To report a problem with your own vehicle, go to nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem. All open investigations.