Turbocharger failure results in fire

What NHTSA investigated

The office of defects investigationlearned of 19 transit bus fire allegations where theengine turbocharger was suspected as being the cause of the fire. This investigation was opened to obtain specific information on the fire allegations and gather technical information on the engine/turbocharger combinations used on these vehicles, and to understand the influence of the turbocharger as a catalyst for the fires.during the investigation odi exmamined several buses involved in fires and had a technical meeting with detroit officials.as a result of odi's investigation, detroit has agreed to initiate two separate safety recalls, each having a different remedy, to address the thermal event concerns.a copy of each recall is attached. Separate safety recalls are being conducted on the two series engines, as the causes and solutions are different for the two applications.copies of each recall action are attached. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.

Recalls that followed

1. Neoplan — Engine and Engine Cooling: Turbo/Supercharger05V29000014 June 2005465 vehicles
2. New Flyer — Engine and Engine Cooling: Turbo/Supercharger05V0450004 February 2005805 vehicles
3. Orion — Engine and Engine Cooling: Turbo/Supercharger05V0260001 February 2005207 vehicles
4. Gillig — Engine and Engine Cooling: Turbo/Supercharger04V4860007 October 2004810 vehicles
5. Detroit Diesel — Engine and Engine Cooling: Turbo/Supercharger04E05100029 July 20042,326 vehicles
6. Detroit Diesel — Engine and Engine Cooling: Turbo/Supercharger04E05200028 July 20043,421 vehicles

Vehicles covered

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.