Recall 20V354 covers 55 2016-2019 Nova Bus Lfs buses for rear-door safety software that can keep closing on occupants. Free repair at Nova Bus dealers.
Nova Bus is recalling 55 2016-2019 Lfs buses because the rear passenger door's obstruction safety mechanism can be inactive, allowing the pneumatic doors to keep closing. If someone is in the doorway, the doors can continue closing and increase injury risk; Nova Bus dealers will repair the system free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The rear passenger door on 2016-2019 Nova Bus Lfs buses uses a pneumatic motor, which opens and closes the door with air pressure instead of a manual linkage. Vehicle software controls that door system and its obstruction protection, the safety function that reopens the door when something is in the closing path.
On included buses, the software logic for that protection is wrong for vehicles built with this pneumatic rear door setup. Under the conditions described by Nova Bus, the obstruction protection becomes inactive, so the rear passenger door keeps closing instead of reversing. That leaves a passenger or object in the doorway with less protection from the closing door.
The fix is a new vehicle software version that restores the intended door response. There is no warning sign before failure. An operator will not get a separate symptom that proves the obstruction protection is inactive before the door closes on an obstruction.
Who's affected?
The listed components are split between electrical system software and body structure for the same Lfs bus line.
| 2019 Nova Bus Lfs | electrical system software |
|---|---|
| 2018 Nova Bus Lfs | body structure |
| 2017 Nova Bus Lfs | electrical system software |
| 2017 Nova Bus Lfs | body structure |
| 2018 Nova Bus Lfs | electrical system software |
| 2019 Nova Bus Lfs | body structure |
| 2016 Nova Bus Lfs | electrical system software |
| 2016 Nova Bus Lfs | body structure |
| Units affected | 55 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident 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?
The rear doors can keep closing while someone is still in the doorway, increasing the risk of injury. There is no warning sign before this happens, so keep passengers clear of the doorway and schedule the software update soon. Repair is free at any franchised Nova Bus dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2019 Nova Bus Lfs is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Nova Bus dealer to schedule the free software update that restores the rear-door obstruction safety mechanism.
- Keep passengers clear of the rear doorway until the software update is complete.
- Bring the recall notice from Nova Bus, or reference recall number 20V354 when you call.
- Call Nova Bus customer service at 1-800-350-6682 with questions about scheduling or repair status.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Nova Bus technician updates the software for the rear passenger door safety mechanism, which controls automatic reopening when the pneumatic door meets an obstruction. The software update is free under the recall, and the recall began July 9, 2020. Nova Bus has a general reimbursement plan on file for this campaign. If you already paid for a related door safety mechanism repair, contact Nova Bus customer service with your repair documentation and ask how to submit a claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 15, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 30, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| June 30, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 30, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| July 9, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V354?
Recall 20V354 covers 55 2016-2019 Nova Bus Lfs buses with rear passenger door software that can leave the automatic reopen safety feature inactive. If an occupant is in the doorway, the doors can continue closing, increasing injury risk. Nova Bus updates the safety-mechanism software for free.
What should I do if my 2016-2019 Nova Bus Lfs is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 20V354. If it is, contact a franchised Nova Bus dealer or Nova Bus customer service to schedule the rear door safety-mechanism software update. Reference recall number 20V354 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and Nova Bus stated that it will update the rear door safety-mechanism software free of charge. The recall repair has been available since July 9, 2020.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is injury at the rear passenger door. The automatic reopen feature can be inactive under certain conditions, so the pneumatic rear doors can continue closing while an occupant is in the doorway. The free software update restores the intended safety-mechanism behavior.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V354000 |
|---|---|
| Nova Bus customer service | 1-800-350-6682 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V354 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V354000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 23, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →