Recall 12V447 affects 187 2004-2008 Orion V and Vii transit buses for turbocharger wheel failure. Free repair at franchised Orion dealer once available.
Orion is recalling 187 2004-2008 Orion V and Vii transit buses with John Deere Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) turbocharged engines because the turbine or compressor wheel can fail. The failure can damage the engine or leak oil, leading to smoke, fire, and stalling that increases crash risk; the Orion dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The 2004-2008 Orion V and Vii transit buses in this recall use John Deere compressed natural gas turbocharged engines. The turbocharger is a turbine and compressor assembly mounted on the engine. Exhaust flow spins the turbine wheel, and the compressor wheel pushes more air into the engine so the CNG fuel burns with the air it needs.
On affected buses, the turbine wheel or compressor wheel can fail inside the turbocharger. When one of those wheels breaks apart or stops working correctly, pieces or imbalance can damage the engine and oil can leak from the engine or turbo area. The filing does not identify a separate cause beyond the turbocharger wheel failure, so the repair focus is the affected turbocharger hardware.
There is no warning sign before failure. After failure, a driver or maintenance crew can notice engine damage symptoms or visible oil near the engine area.
Who's affected?
Spans Orion V and Vii buses across 2004-2008, all tied to the turbo/supercharger component.
| 2004 Orion V | Turbo/supercharger |
|---|---|
| 2006 Orion Vii | Turbo/supercharger |
| 2005 Orion Vii | Turbo/supercharger |
| 2008 Orion V | Turbo/supercharger |
| 2007 Orion V | Turbo/supercharger |
| 2005 Orion V | Turbo/supercharger |
| 2006 Orion V | Turbo/supercharger |
| Units affected | 187 |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
A turbine or compressor wheel failure can cause smoke, fire, or stalling, which increases crash risk. If the bus smokes, loses power, or stalls, stop in a safe place and contact an Orion dealer before driving again. Repair will be free at any franchised Orion dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2004-2008 Orion V or Vii bus is included in this recall.
- Review the owner notice if Orion sent one, because the filing said the remedy was still under development when the recall began.
- Call Orion customer service at 1-800-882-8054 to ask whether the final repair is open for your VIN, and reference recall number 12V447.
- Ask the service desk about the turbocharger turbine or compressor wheel failure that can lead to smoke, fire, stalling, or engine damage.
- Avoid operating the bus if you see smoke, smell oil, or the engine stalls; arrange service before returning it to route.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Orion technician will follow the final repair instructions once Orion releases them. The remedy text says the repair is still under development, so it does not list a part replacement, inspection, or engine repair procedure yet. The issue involves John Deere CNG turbocharged engines, including the turbine or compressor wheel and related engine oil leak concern. The final dealer repair will be free once available. Until then, use the owner notice and dealer guidance for the next service step.
Timeline
| September 13, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 28, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V447?
Recall 12V447 covers 187 2004-2008 Orion V and Vii transit buses with John Deere CNG turbocharged engines. The turbine or compressor wheel can fail, damage the engine, cause an oil leak, smoke, fire, or stalling, and increase crash risk.
What should I do if my 2004-2008 Orion V or Vii is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 12V447. If it is, contact an Orion service location or Daimler Buses North America at 1-800-882-8054, reference recall 12V447, and ask for the current repair instructions.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to correct a safety defect at no cost to the owner. The filing for recall 12V447 said the remedy was under development when the safety recall began, so ask the dealer or Daimler Buses North America for the current free repair path.
What is the safety risk for recall 12V447?
The risk is smoke, fire, and stalling after the turbocharger turbine or compressor wheel fails. Stalling can increase crash risk, especially for a transit bus in service. If your VIN is included, ask for the current repair instructions before keeping the bus in regular operation.
When did the recall notice start?
The safety recall began on September 28, 2012. The remedy was still under development in the original filing, so owners checking this recall now should use the VIN check and contact an Orion service location or Daimler Buses North America with recall 12V447.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V447000 |
|---|---|
| Orion customer service | 1-800-882-8054 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V447 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V447000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (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 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →