FL968 Loss of Drive Power from Switch Failure – 2021-2023 Thomas Built Bus SAF-TLINER C2 JOULEY School Buses

“This site contains affiliate links for which OEMDTC may be compensated”

March 28, 2023 NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 23V209000

Loss of Drive Power from Switch Failure

A loss of drive power, power steering, or vehicle lighting can increase the risk of a crash.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V209

Manufacturer Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Components ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Potential Number of Units Affected 380

 

Summary

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Thomas Built Bus SAF-TLINER C2 JOULEY school buses equipped with an automatic low voltage disconnect switch. The automatic low voltage disconnect switch may fail, resulting in a loss of drive power, power steering, or vehicle lighting.

 

Remedy

Dealers will remove the automatic low voltage disconnect switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 18, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA’s number for this recall is FL968.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

 

Check for Daimler Trucks North America Recalls

 


October 2023
FL968A-B
NHTSA #23V-209 (School Bus)

Subject: Automatic Low Voltage Disconnect Switch

Models Affected: Specific model year 2021-2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley electric school buses, manufactured between December 11, 2019, through October 12, 2022.

 

General Information

Daimler Truck North America LLC (DTNA), on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary, Thomas Built Buses, has decided that a defect that relates to motor vehicle safety exists on the vehicles mentioned above.

On the affected vehicles, the automatic low voltage disconnect switch could fail, resulting in a loss of power without warning. This may result in loss of drive power with inability to restart, loss of lights, and loss of power steering, which can increase the risk of a crash.

The automatic low voltage disconnect switch will be removed. Vehicles equipped with a wheelchair lift (FL968-B) require the installation of a new jumper cable.

There are approximately 381 vehicles involved in this campaign.

 

Additional Repairs

Dealers must complete all outstanding recall and field service campaigns prior to the sale or delivery of a vehicle. A dealer will be liable for any progressive damage that results from its failure to complete campaigns before sale or delivery of a vehicle.

Owners may be liable for any progressive damage that results from failure to complete campaigns within a reasonable time after receiving notification.

 

Work Instructions

Please refer to the attached work instructions. Prior to performing the campaign, check the vehicle for a completion sticker (Form WAR260).

 

Replacement Parts

Replacement parts are now available and can be obtained by ordering the part number listed below from your facing Parts Distribution Center (PDC).

If our records show your dealership has ordered any vehicle(s) involved in campaign number FL968, a list of the customers and vehicle identification numbers will be available on the DTNA Portal. Please refer to this list when ordering parts for this recall.

Table 1 – Replacement Parts for FL968

Campaign Number Part Description Part Number Qty.
FL968B CABLE-BATTERY,JUMPER,POS,4/0 A66-19607-012 1 ea
BLANK COMPLETION STICKER WAR260 1 ea

Table 1

 

Removal of the Automatic Low Voltage Disconnect (ALVD) Switch

1. Park the vehicle on a level surface, place the vehicle in neutral, shut down the vehicle, and set the park brake. Chock the tires.

2. Turn off the manual battery disconnect switch.

3. Disconnect the positive and negative battery cables on the batteries.

4. Remove the fasteners from the jumper cable (A66-22793-005) that connects the ALVD switch to the power distribution module (PDM/PDC), then remove the jumper cable. See Fig. 1.

 

5. Remove the fastener that attaches the jumper cable (A66-19607-015) to the ALVD switch, then remove the jumper cable from the ALVD switch.

6. Remove the fasteners that hold the ALVD switch in place, then remove the ALVD switch. See Fig. 2.

 

7. Disconnect the ALVD switch harness from the toggle switch, located beside the manual battery cut-off switch.

8. Remove the fasteners and the clipping points from the harness, then remove the toggle switch. See Fig. 3.

 

9. Remove the harness from the ground stud on the chassis rail. Install the fastener and tighten 37 lbf·ft (50 N·m). Apply varnish on the ground stud that is on the rail.

10. Is the vehicle equipped with a wheelchair lift?

YES → Instead of the existing jumper cable (A66-19607-015), use the new one (A66-19607-012).

NO → Use the existing jumper cable (A66-19607-015).

11. Install the jumper cable on the PDM using the original lock washer and fastener. Tighten the fastener 24 lbf·ft (33 N·m).

IMPORTANT: Battery cable installation should correspond with the illustrations shown in the drawing D66-35173.

NOTE: Grease all the ring terminal connections.

12. Connect the positive and negative battery cables to the batteries. See Fig. 4.

 

13. Use a butterfly tie band to secure the jumper cable (A66-19607-015) with the power cable connected to the chassis harness inside the battery box, as shown in Fig. 5.

 

14. Turn on the manual battery disconnect switch.

15. Verify the vehicle operation and ensure that no malfunction indicator lamps (MILs) are illuminated.

 

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

Download [442.09 KB]

 


Daimler Truck North America LLC
Updated Chronology – September 13, 2023

Friday, March 3, DTNA learned that our supplier (Proterra, Inc.) was investigating a potential defect with the automatic low voltage disconnect switch (Gigavac Switch) used on our SAF-TLINER C2 JOULEY. DTNA immediately began an investigation into this topic, speaking to Engineering and QA and beginning a detailed warranty analysis. At this time, DTNA knew of no vehicle shutdowns when in motion or otherwise in route.

Monday, March 13, DTNA completed a warranty analysis, finding no reports from the field from a shutdown while the vehicle was in motion. On or about that same time, DTNA questioned the supplier about possible shutdowns while in motion and continued DTNA’s own internal investigation into possible failures while in motion; nonetheless, at this time, there continued to be no known occurrences of such a failure effect. However, DTNA continued to analyze the possibility that such a shutdown was possible.

On March 28, DTNA decided that there exists a theoretical possibility of such a shutdown in motion and, out of an abundance of caution given the circumstances, decided to recall. On May 25, DTNA amended the DIR to update the remedy, stating it is currently under validation. Subsequent to submitting this Defect Information Report, in June 2023, DTNA was informed of two reports of vehicles in the recall population that had experienced a shutdown. Upon review, there was no evidence of water intrusion into the automatic low voltage disconnect switch and DTNA began to investigate further. In mid-June, DTNA received notice from a District Service Manager of some vehicles having a separate issue, one of which may have had a shutdown; DTNA promptly began investigating. Within that investigation, DTNA found 10 warranty claims (of which two are for one vehicle) and 4 field reports (of which one is ambiguous), no reported injuries nor deaths.

On August 17, DTNA determined that on this same, exact vehicle population there exists an additional failure mechanism impacting the automatic low voltage disconnect switch (Gigavac Switch) where an overload on the vehicle’s electrical system could occur, resulting in the same consequence (vehicle loss of drive power, steering or vehicle lighting) without warning. DTNA’s remedy for this issue and the issue originally described in this Defect Information Report will resolve both conditions.

On September 13, 2023, DTNA submitted this updated chronology to replace the prior version that was provided in error. All substantive information related to the recall remains unchanged.

On November 3, 2023 DTNA is providing revised planned final owner and dealer notification dates and added the final remedy.

 


3 Affected Products

Vehicle

MAKE MODEL YEAR
THOMAS BUILT BUSES SAF-T-LINER C2 2021-2023

 


17 Associated Documents

Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-23V209-9657.pdf 645.372KB

 


Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-23V209-4458.PDF 213.981KB

 


Defect Information Report

RMISC-23V209-4448.pdf 1116.902KB

 


Amended Defect Information Report

RMISC-23V209-9697.pdf 827.818KB

 


Recall 573 Report – May 25, 2023

RCLRPT-23V209-6061.PDF 214.048KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-23V209-9071.pdf 262.365KB

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

Download [256.22 KB]

 


ISSUED Interim Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RIONL-23V209-2898.pdf 188.907KB

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

Download [184.48 KB]

 


Amended Defect Information Report

RMISC-23V209-6523.pdf 268.616KB

 


Recall 573 Report – August 22, 2023

RCLRPT-23V209-2453.PDF 214.458KB

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-23V209-8181.pdf 120.988KB

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

Download [118.15 KB]

 


Chronology Report

RMISC-23V209-6647.pdf 128.639KB

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

Download [125.62 KB]

 


Recall 573 Report – September 13, 2023

RCLRPT-23V209-8152.PDF 213.406KB

 


ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-23V209-7288.pdf 146.764KB

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

Download [143.32 KB]

 


Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-23V209-3049.pdf 452.697KB

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

Download [442.09 KB]

 


Recall 573 Report – November 3, 2023

RCLRPT-23V209-3913.PDF 213.043KB

 


Chronology Report

RMISC-23V209-4712.pdf 76.428KB

Loader Loading...
EAD Logo Taking too long?

Reload Reload document
| Open Open in new tab

Download [74.64 KB]

 


Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2023-4

RCLQRT-23V209-1481.PDF 211.287KB

 


Latest Recalls Documents

For the Latest and Most Recent Recalls Information Visit the link below…

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=23V209&docType=RCL

 


 

SaleBestseller No. 1
Ampper Battery Switch, 12-48 V Battery Power Cut Master Switch Disconnect Isolator for Car, Vehicle, RV and Boat (On/Off)
  • Heavy Duty: ABS plastic housing, durable made for safety use, rear cover insulates terminals against any short of circuits, equiped with 4 sets of bolts.
  • Operation: On/Off 2 positions, 275 A continuous at DC 12V, 455 A intermittent at DC 12V, 1250 A momentary at DC 12V.
  • Compatible: used for DC 12 - 48 V systems to isolate and secure the electrical system, can stand alone or be locked together with other switch.
  • Purpose: eliminate any power draw from the battery when vehicle or boat is not in use, disconnects the battery safely.
  • Copper terminal stud size: 3/8" (10 mm) x 2, very easy to install, universal used for car, vehicle, Rv and boat, also electrical equipment's switch.
Bestseller No. 2
Nilight - 90015A Battery Switch 12-48V Waterproof Heavy Duty Battery Power Cut Master Switch Disconnect Isolator for Car Vehicle RV and Marine Boat (On/Off),2 Years Warranty
  • Heavy Duty: ABS plastic housing, durable made for safety use, rear cover insulates terminals against any short of circuits, equipped with 4 sets of bolts.
  • Operation: On/Off 2 positions, 275 A continuous at DC 12V, 455 A intermittent at DC 12V, 1250 A momentary at DC 12V.
  • Compatible: used for DC 12 - 48V systems to isolate and secure the electrical system, can stand alone or be locked together with other switch.Its purpose is to eliminate any power draw from the battery when vehicle or boat is not in use, disconnects the battery safely.
  • Widely used for car, marine boat, RV, camper, travel trailer, truck, ATV, UTV, battery banks and other devices.
  • Package include:1x On/Off battery switch,4 bolts incuded.
Bestseller No. 3
12-48V Master Battery Disconnect Switch, High Current 200A Battery Power Cutoff Isolator Killer Switch with Face Plate for Car Vehicle RV Truck Boat Marine Outboards ATV On/Off Battery Isolator Switch
  • UNIVERSAL BATTERY DISCONNECT SWITCH - High current battery disconnect switch is designed to cut off the electrical power of the electrical system, which protects against electrical fires and theft when equipment is not in use and provides a reliable way to shutdown electrical power during maintenance and protect batteries from excessive battery drain. Disconnct the battery when you are not driving a car / boat / RV / vehicle / ATV / Trailers / Off-road, etc. Keep you safe all the time.
  • APPLICATIONS - Rated to 200 Amps continuous duty, 1000 Amps intermittent duty, used for 12-48 VDC systems to isolate and secure the electrical system. Master battery disconnect switch is widely used for ATVs, Trailers, UTVs, Cars, Marine Outboard, Off-road, RVs, Trucks, Heavy Vehicles, and electrical equipment's switch.
  • PREMIUM QUALITY - Master battery disconnect switch with face plate is made of robust aluminum alloy heavy duty housing, strong weather resistance and long service lifespan. It can protect the internal components of the switch for use in the harsh condition. Replace part number: 20701, 062790.
  • EASY TO INSTALL - 12V Battery isolator switch comes with on/off indicator, it includes a definitive click when turning on and off. No modifications required! | HOW TO INSTALL? Step 1: Disconnect the battery and choose the negative cable; Step 2: Choose the proper mounting position for the switch; Step 3: Connect the positive and negative cables ( DO NOT ATTACH AT THE SAME TIME to shut off the switch ), then install the switch; Step 4: Reconnect the battery and check for correct operation.
  • BUY WITH CONFIDENCE - This battery disconnect switch comes complete with a 1-Year warranty. If the shut-off switch ever fails on your ATVs, Trailers, Off-road, RVs, Trucks, Heavy Vehicle, UTV, Boats, Cars ( Rated to 200 Amps continuous duty, 1000 Amps intermittent duty, used for 12-48 VDC systems. ) during this period, please feel free to contact us for a replacement. Save time and money by purchasing this part, replacing them by yourself within minutes.
Bestseller No. 4
Ampper Top Post Battery Disconnect Switch, 12-48 V Battery Power Cut Master Switch Disconnect Isolator for Car, Vehicle, RV and Boat (Negative, On/Off)
  • Convenience: direct fit and no modifications, hook up to TOP post battery negative directly, do not need additional battery cables or lugs, isolate and secure the electrical system easily.
  • Operation: used for DC 12 - 48 V systems, ON/OFF 2 positions, 275 A continuous at DC 12V, 455 A intermittent at DC 12V, 1250 A momentary at DC 12V.
  • Heavy Duty: ABS plastic housing, durable made for safety use. Extended the top post battery negative to original size: standard top post negative (17 mm cone/tapering negative (-)), installation space should be checked.
  • Compatible: used for standard top post battery (19 mm cone/tapering positive & 17 mm cone/tapering negative). Can stand alone or be locked together with other switch.
  • Purpose: eliminate any power draw from the battery when vehicle or boat is not in use, disconnects the battery safely, widely used for car, vehicle, Rv and boat.
Bestseller No. 6
Battery Disconnect Switch, 12V-48V Battery Cut Off Switch (On/Off) for Marine, Boat, Camper, RV, Truck, Trailer Vehicles (2 Pack), Upgraded
  • 【Easy to Install】Our battery disconnect switch is an easy-to-install rotary on/off switch, rated up to 275 amps at 12 volts DC. The power cut switch can take up to 48 volts DC, but at a less ampere rating. Furthermore, you can use this device as a standalone disconnect switch or as a master switch locked together with other power controllers.
  • 【Made with High-quality Material】The disconnect switch is made with sturdy and high-quality ABS plastic material casing. And it includes rear cover insulators, ensuring that moisture won’t creep inside it and prevent shorts and other electrical faults. Its tin-plated copper nuts and studs ensure top-tier stability and longevity.
  • 【Widely Application】The switch is just a simple on/off dial. It’s easy enough to mount, simple to use, and is instantly identifiable as a battery disconnect. The battery disconnect switch is widely used for boat trailers, camping, RVs, cars, trucks, ATVs, UTV battery and more.
  • 【Complete Parts for Installation】You will receive complete parts for installation, which will meet everything needed to install this battery master disconnect switch. The package will come with upgraded Battery Switch × 2, mounting Bolts and Nuts × 8, hex Wrench × 2, heat Shrink Tubing × 4, and 2×3/8 Copper Ring Terminals × 4. The complete kit will meet all your needs.
  • 【Important】If you are not satisfied with our products or have any questions, you can contact us and we will reply you within 24 hours.
Bestseller No. 7
Battery Disconnect Switch 12-48 V Battery Master Cut Shut Off Isolator Switch Max. 32V DC 100A Cont 150A INT ON-Off Power Battery Switches for Car Off-Road Vehicle Truck Boat RV Marine (100A)
  • 🔋 High Power: Our battery switch can handle up to 150 amps intermittently and 100 amps continuously at 32V DC max, with a cranking power of 500 amps for 5 seconds.
  • 🔋 Leak Protection: Keep your vehicle or boat safe with our power switch, which can be used to disconnect the battery when not in use.
  • 🔋 Durable Design: Made of heavy-duty ABS plastic, our battery power cut-off master switch is built to withstand harsh marine conditions and ensure safety.
  • 🔋 Easy to Use: Our switch features a 2P SPST OFF-ON function and can be installed with a 29mm hole. Please note that the cover cannot be removed.
  • 🔋 Wide Application: Our built-in waterproof battery disconnect switch is universal and can be used for cars, SUVs, trucks, motorcycles, yachts, boats, vans, and more.
Bestseller No. 8
Mata1 Battery Disconnect Switch, Top & Side Mount, 275 amp 12-48 V, Heavy Duty Rotary Cut-Off Switch
  • ANTI-THEFT - Protect your RV, car, truck, boat, ATV, tractor, or motorcycle from with a cutoff battery-disconnect switch
  • PRESERVE - Control and extend your battery's lifespan when you shut off power with a master disconnector; Plus, it helps prevent battery drain and leakage
  • HIGH QUALITY - This durable knob style, rotary killswitch is made with thermal and chemical-resistant PBT, long-life ABS, rust-resistant copper, and corrosion-resistant stainless steel
  • EASY INSTALLATION - 1) Connect vehicle positive wire to switch 2) Connect switch to battery positive terminal 3) Reconnect vehicle’s negative wire to battery 4) Test connections 5) Drill four holes for top mount or side mount position and install screws
  • INCLUDES - 1 Battery switch, 1 screw, 1 nut, and 1 instruction manual
SaleBestseller No. 9
Battery Disconnect Switch 12V Master,12V-48V Battery Shut Off Switch 275Amps High Current for Car Marine Boat RV Vehicles(On/Off)
  • Easy to Use: Turning it on powers up your system, turning it off cuts the power.It can handle 275 Amps of continuous DC power for up to 1 hour, 455 Amps intermittently for 5 minutes, and 1250 Amps for cranking power lasting 10 seconds. It has 2x3/8" (10mm) studs.
  • Sturdy Construction: This battery disconnect switch is built with a tough ABS plastic housing, tinned copper studs, and nuts. It includes 4 stainless steel mounting screws and caps for secure installation. You can easily access battery cables with 4 removable side plates.
  • Safety First: The battery shut-off switch disconnects your battery safely, preventing excessive drain when your vehicle or boat isn't in use.
  • Versatile Compatibility: This quick disconnect switch is designed for 12-48V DC systems, allowing you to isolate and secure your electrical system. It can work independently or be locked together with other switches, offering a simple and cost-effective way to separate batteries.
  • Wide Range of Uses: This universal switch is suitable not just for cars, RVs, trucks, and marine boats but also for various electrical equipment, like flashing lights, chassis lights, fog lights, and dome lights.
SaleBestseller No. 10
Blue Sea Systems 6006 m-Series Battery Switch ON/OFF with Knob, Red
  • Blue Sea Systems Battery Switch m-Series ON/OFF with Knob, part number 6006, is a Single Circuit ON-OFF switch. Switches a single battery to a single load group
  • IP66 waterproof, ISO 8846 and meets ABYC requirements. Ignition protected—safe for installation aboard gasoline powered boats
  • Make before break contact design allows switching between battery banks without power interruption
  • Continuous Rating: 300A, Maximum Voltage: 48V DC
  • Robust redesign done in July 2017. Premium warranty & support

Last update on 2024-04-18 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API

This product presentation was made with AAWP plugin.

 


Leave a Comment

Share to...