Recall 18V155 affects 979 2016-2018 New Flyer XDE40, XDE60, and XDE35 buses for cracked drive shaft end-caps. Free repair at a franchised New Flyer dealer.
New Flyer is recalling 979 2016-2018 XDE40, XDE60, and XDE35 transit buses because plastic end caps on the drive shaft slip yoke can crack and fail. If the end caps fail, the bus can lose drive power and crash risk rises; New Flyer dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The drive shaft on affected 2016-2018 New Flyer XDE40, XDE60, and XDE35 buses carries engine and electric-drive power through the driveline to the wheels. The slip yoke is the sliding joint in that shaft. It lets the shaft move slightly as the suspension and driveline shift, while still keeping power moving through the bus.
On these buses, the supplier changed the slip yoke end cap from mild steel to plastic. To fit the plastic cap, the yoke was bored wider than the original design required. That left very thin metal sidewalls around the newly bored hole. Those thin sidewalls are vulnerable to stress fractures and fatigue cracks, so the slip yoke can crack and fail before its normal service life.
Before failure, maintenance staff can see stress cracks on the slip yoke during an inspection. Drivers and operators should report visible cracking for service before the bus returns to route.
Who's affected?
Covers XDE40, XDE60, and XDE35 buses across the 2016-2018 model years, all tied to the driveline.
| 2018 New Flyer XDE40 | driveline |
|---|---|
| 2018 New Flyer XDE60 | driveline |
| 2017 New Flyer XDE60 | driveline |
| 2017 New Flyer XDE40 | driveline |
| 2017 New Flyer XDE35 | driveline |
| 2016 New Flyer XDE60 | driveline |
| 2016 New Flyer XDE40 | driveline |
| Units affected | 979 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 3 field incidents to date. |
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?
Drive shaft end-cap failure can cause loss of drive power and increase crash risk. Stress cracks on the slip yoke during maintenance inspection are the warning sign before failure. Have the drive shaft inspected promptly, and have any drive shaft with plastic end-caps replaced. Repair is free at any franchised New Flyer dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2018 New Flyer XDE40, XDE60, or XDE35 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised New Flyer dealer to schedule the free drive shaft slip yoke inspection.
- Ask the dealer to replace any drive shaft with plastic end-caps on the slip yoke, which fixes the end-cap failure that can cause loss of drive power.
- Bring the recall notice if New Flyer has mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V155 and New Flyer recall R18-002 when you call.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a New Flyer technician inspects the drive shaft slip yoke and replaces any drive shaft that has plastic end caps on the slip yoke. The inspection, replacement parts, and labor are free under the recall. New Flyer has a general reimbursement plan on file for owners who already paid for this repair. Ask New Flyer customer service or the service desk how to submit repair documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| March 7, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| March 21, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| March 21, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 22, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| March 30, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V155?
Recall 18V155 covers 979 2016-2018 New Flyer XDE40, XDE60, and XDE35 Heavy Duty Urban Transit buses with plastic end-caps on the drive shaft slip yoke that can crack and fail. New Flyer dealers inspect the slip yoke and replace affected drive shafts for free.
What should I do if my 2016-2018 New Flyer XDE40, XDE60, or XDE35 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm the specific bus is included in recall 18V155. If it is, contact a franchised New Flyer dealer or New Flyer customer service at 1-204-224-6706 to arrange the drive shaft slip yoke inspection. Reference recall number R18-002 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and New Flyer dealers inspect the drive shaft slip yoke and replace any drive shaft with plastic end-caps on the slip yoke free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loss of drive power. If the plastic end-caps on the drive shaft slip yoke crack and fail, the bus can lose drive power, increasing crash risk. The repair path is an inspection and free replacement of any affected drive shaft.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall repair began on March 22, 2018. New Flyer notified owners, and dealers were directed to inspect the drive shaft slip yoke and replace any drive shaft that has plastic end-caps on the slip yoke free of charge.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V155000 |
|---|---|
| New Flyer customer service | 1-204-224-6706 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V155 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V155000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →