1998 Gillig PHANTOM: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2001-03-07 (March 7, 2001)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH VANNER 60 SERIES BATTERY EQUALIZERS. THE EQUALIZER COULD FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY AND CAUSE MALFUNCTION OF THE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM.

Consequence: WITHOUT FUSING, THE EQUALIZER MAY MELT, BURN, OR SMOKE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE OR A SMOKE FILLED BUS, THUS NECESSITATING A PASSENGER EVACUATION OF THE BUS. THE FAILURE MODE CAN CAUSE OPERATOR DISTRACTION, AND/OR POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: VANNER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS TO INSPECT THEIR BUSES FOR CERTAIN EQUALIZERS BY THE DATE CODE. THE AFFECTED EQUALIZERS WILL BE REPLACED. VANNER IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN AND WAS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MARCH 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VANNER AT 1-800-227-6937.

Reported: 2002-03-21 (March 21, 2002)

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ADHESIVELY BONDED ALUMINUM BUS DOOR PANELS, DUE TO AN IMPERFECT BONDING OF THE DOOR PANEL SKIN TO THE PANEL FRAME, ENVIRONMENTAL MOISTURE MAY INFILTRATE REGIONS OF IMPERFECT BONDING AND CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE FRAME AND DOOR PANEL.

Consequence: UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, IF THE PANEL IS SEPARATING OR HAS SEPARATED, A PASSENGER COULD FALL FROM THE BUS ONTO THE ROADWAY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: VAPOR WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS TO HAVE THEIR BUSES INSPECTED AND WILL INSTALL MECHANICAL FASTENERS TO ATTACH THE SKINS TO THE FRAME ELEMENTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT VAPOR CORPORATION AT 847-967-8300 OR VAPOR AT 1510-785-1500.

Reported: 2002-03-18 (March 18, 2002)

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH VANNER 60 SERIES BATTERY EQUALIZERS, THE EQUALIZER COULD FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY AND CAUSE MALFUNCTION OF THE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM.

Consequence: WITHOUT FUSING, THE EQUALIZER MAY MELT, BURN, OR SMOKE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE OR A SMOKE FILLED BUS, THUS NECESSITATING A PASSENGER EVACUATION OF THE BUS. THE FAILURE MODE CAN CAUSE OPERATOR DISTRACTION, AND/OR POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUSES FOR CERTAIN EQUALIZERS BY THE DATE CODE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT GILLIG AT 1-510-785-1500 OR VANNER AT 1-800-227-6937.

Reported: 2004-04-09 (April 9, 2004)

ON CERTAIN BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES ON THE C8.3G AND L10G ENGINES, THE ECM DOES NOT HAVE THE ABILITY TO DETECT A THROTTLE FAIL-SAFE ENGINE SHUTDOWN COMMAND. THIS COULD RESULT IN AN UNANTICIPATED, UNCOMMANDED OPEN THROTTLE CONDITION WITHOUT WARNING.

Consequence: IF THIS EVENT OCCURS, THE VEHICLE OPERATOR WILL NOT HAVE CONTROL OF THE ENGINE SPEED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: CUMMINS WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE ECM. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-343-7357 OR GILLIG AT 510-785-1500.

Reported: 2004-09-24 (September 24, 2004)

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED WITH DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 50 ENGINE, THE TURBOCHARGER COMPRESSOR WHEEL CAN BREAK, RESULTING IN SHAFT IMBALANCE AND LUBRICATING OIL PASSES INTO THE EXHAUST SYSTEM.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURIES.

Remedy: DETROIT DIESEL IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL INSTALL AN EXHAUST TEMPERATURE SENSOR AND REPROGRAM THE EMC CALIBRATION. GILLIG ISSUED A RENOTIFICATION LETTER TO OWNERS ON FEBRUARY 27, 2007. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL AT 313-592-3708 OR GILLIG AT 510-785-1500.

Reported: 2004-10-07 (October 7, 2004)

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 40 ENGINES, THE TURBOCHARGER CAN FAIL ALLOWING LUBRICATING OIL TO SPILL ONTO THE ENGINE.

Consequence: THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TURBOCHARGER TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. DETROIT DIESEL IS CONDUCTING OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. GILLIG ISSUED A RENOTIFICATION LETTER TO OWNERS ON FEBRUARY 27, 2007. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT DETROIT DETROIT DIESEL AT 313-5923708 OR GILLIG AT 510-785-1500.