Recall 18V299 covers 1,058 2015-2017 Nova Bus Lfs and Lfs Artic buses for brake guide pin failure. Free repair at a Nova Bus dealer once available.
Nova Bus is recalling 1,058 2015-2017 Lfs and Lfs Artic transit buses because rough guide pins in the radial air disk brake calipers can break the support bolt. A broken guide pin can cause loss of braking ability or tire pressure and increase crash risk; the Nova Bus dealer repair will be free once it is available.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The affected part is the radial air disc brake caliper on certain 2015-2017 Nova Bus Lfs and Lfs Artic transit buses. The caliper is the brake clamp at the axle. When air pressure applies the brakes, the caliper presses the brake pads against the rotor, and the guide pin lets the caliper carriage move smoothly and stay aligned.
On affected buses, the guide pin surface was too rough because of a materials non-conformance. That rough surface keeps the guide pin from floating as designed. Extra load then builds at the brake carriage guide pin support bolt, and the bolt can break. If it breaks, the caliper can rotate out of position and damage the wheel area.
Before failure, the warning sign is noise from the axle area. A driver or technician hearing new axle noise during operation should treat it as a brake-area warning sign and have the bus inspected.
Who's affected?
Covers the Lfs and Lfs Artic across the 2015, 2016, and 2017 model years, all involving the disc brake caliper.
| 2015 Nova Bus Lfs | brake system |
|---|---|
| 2015 Nova Bus Lfs Artic | brake system |
| 2017 Nova Bus Lfs Artic | brake system |
| 2017 Nova Bus Lfs | brake system |
| 2016 Nova Bus Lfs | brake system |
| 2016 Nova Bus Lfs Artic | brake system |
| Units affected | 1,058 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no 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?
If a guide pin breaks, the bus can lose braking ability or tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash. Noise from the axle area is the warning sign to treat seriously. Schedule service soon and avoid operating the bus if that noise appears. Repair will be free at any franchised Nova Bus dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2017 Nova Bus Lfs or Lfs Artic is included in this recall.
- Wait for Nova Bus repair instructions before scheduling service, because the remedy is still listed as under development.
- Call Nova Bus customer service at 1-800-350-6682 with questions and reference recall number 18V299 when you call.
- Prepare to have a franchised Nova Bus dealer install the free wheel-end guide pins that address the brake-caliper guide pin bolt breakage once the repair opens.
- Limit bus operation until instructions are confirmed; if braking ability changes or tire pressure drops, pull the bus from service and contact Nova Bus.
What happens at the repair
The final dealer repair is still under development, so do not assume the completed repair can be scheduled yet. Once the repair opens, a Nova Bus technician will install new guide pins at each wheel end on the suspect axles, free under the recall. If you already paid for this brake caliper guide pin repair before the owner notice, the manufacturer's standard reimbursement plan covers documented pre-notice repairs. Keep your repair paperwork and ask Nova Bus customer service or the dealer how to submit it.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 7, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 5, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
| July 6, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| July 6, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V299?
Recall 18V299 covers 1,058 2015-2017 Nova Bus Lfs and Lfs Artic transit buses with radial air disk brake axles. Rough guide pins in the brake calipers can break a support bolt, causing loss of braking ability or tire pressure.
What should I do if my 2015-2017 Nova Bus Lfs or Lfs Artic is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V299. If it is, contact Nova Bus customer service at 1-800-350-6682 or a franchised Nova Bus dealer, reference CR4079, and ask when the guide pin repair is available.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Nova's remedy says dealers will install new guide pins at each wheel end on suspect axles free of charge. Federal recall law also requires the manufacturer to provide the recall repair at no cost to the owner.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is reduced braking ability or loss of tire pressure. If a guide pin support bolt breaks, the bus can lose braking performance or tire pressure, increasing crash risk. Ask Nova Bus or the dealer how to handle the bus until the guide pin repair is complete.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V299000 |
|---|---|
| Nova Bus customer service | 1-800-350-6682 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V299 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V299000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Report (PDF) - Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (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 →