Recall 10V538 affects 217 1995-2000 Orion Vi buses for a wheelchair-ramp hydraulic fitting leak. Repair is free for included bus owners.
Orion recall 10V538 covers 217 1995-2000 Vi transit buses with a hydraulic wheelchair ramp fitting that can crack and leak fluid into the engine compartment. Leaking hydraulic fluid can ignite on the hot turbocharger and cause an engine fire; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The hydraulic wheelchair ramp on 1995-2000 Orion Vi transit buses uses pressurized fluid to move the ramp for passenger boarding. A hydraulic pump supplies that pressure through fittings and lines. On these buses, the ramp system includes a tapped fitting and adapter mounted in the engine compartment near the pump.
The problem is the fitting itself. The fitting can crack, and once it cracks, hydraulic fluid leaks into the engine compartment instead of staying sealed inside the ramp system. That fluid loss affects the ramp equipment and leaves fluid where it does not belong, near engine-compartment components.
There is no warning sign before failure. Do not rely on a noise, dashboard light, or change in ramp operation to decide whether a bus is included. The VIN decides whether recall 10V538 applies to a specific Orion Vi bus.
Who's affected?
Spans the 1995-2000 Orion Vi bus line, with the same adaptive mobility equipment component listed for each model year.
| 1999 Orion Vi | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 1997 Orion Vi | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 1996 Orion Vi | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 1995 Orion Vi | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2000 Orion Vi | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 1998 Orion Vi | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 217 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
Recall 10V538 addresses hydraulic fluid leaking into the engine compartment, where it can ignite on the hot turbocharger and cause an engine fire. If your VIN is included, treat any hydraulic fluid leak as a reason to stop the bus and arrange service before putting it back in operation. Repair will be free at any franchised Orion dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 1995-2000 Orion Vi bus is included in this recall.
- Contact Orion customer service at 1-800-716-7566 for the free hydraulic wheelchair-ramp fitting repair instructions.
- Reference recall number 10V538 when you call, and ask what documentation the repair provider needs.
- Park the bus if hydraulic fluid is leaking in the engine compartment, because the leak can ignite on the hot turbocharger.
- Keep the recall notice and repair paperwork with the bus maintenance file.
What happens at the repair
The recall instructions say bus owners were to be told how to repair the buses at no charge. For this Orion Vi recall, the work centers on the hydraulic wheelchair ramp fitting in the engine compartment. The repair addresses the tapped fitting and adapter connected to the hydraulic pump so hydraulic fluid does not leak near the engine. Treat the campaign work as free once Orion confirms the repair instruction for your bus. When you contact the service desk, give them campaign 10V538 and ask what repair instruction applies to your VIN.
Timeline
| November 2, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 3, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V538?
Recall 10V538 covers 217 1995-2000 Orion Vi transit buses with a tapped fitting for the hydraulic wheelchair ramp. The fitting connected to the hydraulic pump can crack and leak hydraulic fluid into the engine compartment, where hot parts can ignite it and cause an engine fire.
What should I do if my 1995-2000 Orion Vi is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V538. If it is, contact Orion at 1-800-716-7566 or your authorized Orion service contact for the free repair instructions. Reference recall number 10V538 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect to be repaired at no cost, and the recall remedy says affected bus owners will receive instructions on how to repair the buses free of charge. Keep the recall number, VIN, and service records with your fleet file.
What is the safety risk in recall 10V538?
The safety risk is an engine fire. Hydraulic fluid from the wheelchair ramp fitting can leak into the engine compartment and ignite on the hot turbocharger. If your VIN is included, arrange the free repair instructions before keeping the bus in passenger service.
What if I bought this Orion Vi used?
The free recall remedy still applies to an included bus. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN, then contact Orion at 1-800-716-7566 or your authorized Orion service contact and reference recall number 10V538.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V538000 |
|---|---|
| Orion customer service | 1-800-716-7566 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V538 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V538000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →