2016 Gillig Low Floor problems

Defect

Gillig, LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2014-2021 Low Floor transit buses. The rear-mounted ultracapacitors may allow the engine to be started when the master battery disconnect switch is in the "OFF" position.

Consequence

The engine may be started unexpectedly, increasing the risk of injury to anyone nearby the engine compartment during maintenance operations.

Remedy

Dealers will update the software for the buses equipped with the Vanner Ultracapacitor system, and conduct a hard rewire for the buses equipped with the KBI system, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on June 22, 2022. Owners may contact Gillig's customer service at 1-510-264-5073 for 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig, LLC. (Gillig) is recalling certain 2013-2020 hybrid and all-electric Low Floor buses equipped with a steering system that uses a high-voltage electric motor and hydraulic pump assembly to provide power steering assist. The shaft coupling between the motor and pump may fail and cause a loss of hydraulic power steering assist.

Consequence

A loss of power steering assist may increase the risk of crash.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will replace the motor-pump assemblies, free of charge. The recall began August 13, 2020. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2012-2020 Low Floor buses. The circuit breaker ratings on the DEF Line Heater circuit and the Aftertreatment-Ignition circuit may be higher than the rating for the wire and connector.

Consequence

With the improper circuit breaker rating, an electrical short in either of these circuits may increase the risk of a fire.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will replace the circuit breakers, free of charge. The recall began April 24, 2020. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-510-264-5073 or 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2014-2019 Low Floor buses. Uncovered electrical terminals in the headlight power circuit may short circuit to ground, causing a loss of headlights.

Consequence

A loss of headlights can reduce the driver's ability to see, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Gillig has notified owners, and dealers will install new back covers on the headlight buckets, free of charge. The recall began April 1, 2019. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-510-264-5073 or 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Low Floor buses. The ball stud of the steering system draglink may not have been properly tightened.

Consequence

If the ball stud is insufficiently tightened, the ball stud may wear, resulting in reduced handling and stability, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and correct the ball stud tightness, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 20, 2019. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-510-264-5073 or 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig, LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Gillig Low Floor transit buses. As built, one of the emergency exit windows may not be able to be easily used in the event of an emergency. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."

Consequence

An obstructed emergency exit can hinder passengers from vacating the bus in the event of an emergency, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will move one of the emergency exit windows to an unobstructed location, free of charge. The recall began February 22, 2019. Owners may contact Gillig's customer service at 1-510-264-5073 or 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Gillig Low Floor transit buses equipped with disk brakes. The spring cage bolts on the air brakes may not be sufficiently tightened, reducing the effectiveness of the parking brake.

Consequence

Loose cage bolts may result in the bus rolling away when in the park position or a loss of braking ability if the service brake air pressure is lost while moving. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will tighten the spring cage bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 10, 2018. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-510-264-5073 or 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Gillig Low Floor vehicles. The front and rear turn signals on these vehicles may flash at different rates, potentially confusing other drivers of the vehicle's intention. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence

The mismatched flashing may confuse other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Gillig will notify the owner of the buses, and dealers will reprogram the turn signals with new software, free of charge. The recall began August 30, 2018. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-510-264-5073 or 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2001-2018 Gillig Low Floor transit buses. The turn signals may flash slowly, reducing their visibility to other drivers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence

The reduced visibility of the turn signals can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will update the software that controls the turn flash rate, free of charge. The recall began on August 2, 2018. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-510-264-5073 or 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Hybrid and all Electric Low Floor buses with electro-hydraulic power steering assist. The coupler between the high-voltage electric motor and hydraulic steering pump shafts may fail, resulting in a loss of power steering assist.

Consequence

A loss of power steering assist will cause the need for increased steering effort, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering motor-pump assemblies, free of charge. The recall began on October 24, 2017. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Low Floor transit buses, equipped with Recaro Commercial Bus Driver Seats. In the affected seats, the seat belt buckle may be stuck in the locked position, preventing the seat belt tongue from being able to be inserted and locked.

Consequence

If the seat belt cannot be latched, the bus may be operated without the seat belt being used, increasing the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners and work with the supplier to replace the buckles, free of charge. The recall began on October 4, 2017. Owners may contact Adient-Recaro at 1-248-484-3250 or Gillig Service at 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2015-2016 Low Floor transit buses equipped with Norgren-brand suspension kneeling modules. The suspension kneeling modules on these vehicles have snap rings on the solenoid valve pistons which may not have been fully inserted and seated during assembly, potentially affecting the suspension air bag pressure and the vehicle's suspension height.

Consequence

An unexpected loss of suspension air bag pressure while driving would result in an abrupt reduction in suspension height, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. A loss of suspension air bag pressure could also occur during vehicle servicing, increasing the risk of injury to maintenance personnel.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners and pay fleets to inspect the front and rear kneeling modules. A snap ring reset tool will be provided free of charge to permanently seat the snap ring in the intended groove. The recall began on June 2, 2017. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Low Floor transit buses. The affected vehicles have wiper arms that can crack where they mount to the wiper motor causing the wiper arms to bend or detach from the vehicle.

Consequence

A loss of wiper function can reduce the driver's visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will replace the affected wiper arms, free of charge. The recall began on March 31, 2017. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain model year 1997-2017 Low Floor transit buses. The front turn signals installed on standard profile (non-BRT) buses may not be sufficiently visible to other drivers or pedestrians. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence

The reduced visibility of the turn signals may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will install turn signals that have increased visibility. The recall began June 7, 2019. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-510-264-5073 or 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig, LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2016-2017 Low Floor transit buses. These vehicles have front LED turn signals with integrated side reflex reflectors that may not be sufficiently visible to other drivers or pedestrians. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Associated Equipment."

Consequence

A bus that has reduced visibility to other drivers or pedestrians has an increased risk of a crash.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners and will replace the LED turn signal/reflector units, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 31, 2017. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Low Floor compressed natural gas (CNG) transit buses manufactured September 1, 2015, to December 5, 2016, equipped with Amerex SafetyNet fire suppression system panel/controller units. These buses have gas detection electronics that may be disabled without providing the operator with a warning of a system malfunction. Affected display panel/controller units were also provided as replacement parts for warranty claims, part numbers 16389, 24109, 24918, 24926 and 24927.

Consequence

If not corrected, the fire suppression systems on certain CNG-powered buses may fail to indicate the presence of a natural gas (methane) leak. In such cases, the driver will not receive a fault code indicating that the Gas Detection electronics have been disabled. This may increase the risk of asphyxiation, fire, or explosion.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners, and Amerex representatives will replace the Operator Display Panel/Controllers, free of charge. The recall began January 20, 2017. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain model year 2016 Low Floor transit buses manufactured May 26, 2016, to September 26, 2016. The affected buses have axles that may have insufficient grease at the wheel ends, possibly resulting in bearing failure.

Consequence

Bearing failure may increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Gillig service centers or the fleet services for the bus owners will inspect the wheel bearings and add grease as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on October 5, 2016. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-800-735-1500. Note: Gillig is advising that vehicles with the affected axles are removed from operation until the recall has been remedied.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain model year 2014-2016 Gillig 29-foot Low Floor transit buses manufactured November 20, 2014, to February 11, 2016. These buses, equipped with disc brakes, have rear brake hoses that can rub chassis components and fray.

Consequence

A frayed hose may leak air, causing the rear brake(s) to lock up unexpectedly, or fail to operate when the brakes are applied. Either scenario increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Gillig will provide fleets new rear brake hoses, fittings, clamps, and hardware along with instructions on how to reorient the hoses using the new fittings, and reimburse them for their labor, free of charge. The recall began on September 29, 2016. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain model year 2012-2016 Lowfloor diesel-electric hybrid vehicles manufactured March 6, 2012, to June 7, 2016. The affected vehicles are equipped with stop lamp activation that may inadvertently flash the rear brake lights. As such, these vehicles do not comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 108, "Lamps, Reflective Devices, and Assoc. Equipment."

Consequence

Flashing brake lights may cause confusion to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will install a new software update, free of charge. The recall began on July 2016. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-800-735-1500.

Defect

Gillig LLC (Gillig) is recalling certain 2016 Low Floor vehicles manufactured March 3, 2016, to April 21, 2016. The driver's side window on the affected vehicles may block too much light, thereby decreasing the driver's visibility. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 205, "Glazing Materials."

Consequence

Reduced driver's visibility can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

Gillig will notify owners, and dealers will install compliant driver's windows, free of charge. The recall began on June 20, 2016. Owners may contact Gillig customer service at 1-800-735-1500.