Recall 21V968 affects 168 2017-2021 Lion Lionc school buses for a 12V circuit breaker switch defect. Repair is free at any franchised Lion dealer.
Lion is recalling 168 2017-2021 Lionc school buses because a 12V circuit breaker switch can fail and cause loss of braking and steering assist. That loss increases the risk of a crash, and Lion dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The master disconnect switch on the 2017-2021 Lion Lionc school bus is a manual battery disconnect switch in the 12V electrical circuit. Its normal job is to let battery power stay connected while the bus is in service and to let technicians isolate that power when the bus is being worked on.
On affected buses, the switch can fail. When it does, the 12V circuit loses the power path that supports braking assist and electric power steering assist. That leaves the driver without the help those systems provide, so the bus is harder to stop and steer. Lion had identified a fix during testing, but the investigation had not named a final root cause.
There is no warning sign before failure. The first sign for a driver is the sudden loss of braking assist or steering assist while operating the bus.
Who's affected?
The affected Lionc buses span five model years, with the same manual battery disconnect switch tied to power steering, hydraulic brake, and wiring systems.
| 2018 Lion Lionc | power steering system |
|---|---|
| 2018 Lion Lionc | hydraulic brake system |
| 2018 Lion Lionc | wiring |
| 2019 Lion Lionc | power steering system |
| 2019 Lion Lionc | hydraulic brake system |
| 2019 Lion Lionc | wiring |
| 2020 Lion Lionc | power steering system |
| 2020 Lion Lionc | hydraulic brake system |
| 2020 Lion Lionc | wiring |
| 2017 Lion Lionc | power steering system |
| 2017 Lion Lionc | hydraulic brake system |
| 2017 Lion Lionc | wiring |
| 2021 Lion Lionc | power steering system |
| 2021 Lion Lionc | hydraulic brake system |
| 2021 Lion Lionc | wiring |
| Units affected | 168 |
| 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?
A loss of braking and steering assist makes the Lionc harder to stop and steer and increases the risk of a crash. Schedule the recall repair soon, and use extra caution until the 12V circuit breaker switch has been inspected and repaired. Repair is free at any franchised Lion dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2017-2021 Lion Lionc is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Lion dealer to schedule the free 12V circuit breaker switch inspection and repair that addresses loss of braking and steering assist.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 21V968 when you call.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete. Leave extra following distance and allow more room for steering and braking.
What happens at the repair
For this available repair, Lion sends repair teams to customer locations. A Lion technician inspects the 12V circuit breaker switch and repairs the switch as needed. The recall repair is free, and Lion says it pays the repair costs. When arranging service, confirm the bus location, vehicle access, and fleet scheduling details so the team can complete the inspection and repair without an extra trip.
Timeline
| December 14, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 7, 2022 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| January 7, 2022 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 10, 2022 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V968?
Recall 21V968 covers 168 2017-2021 Lion Lionc school buses with a 12V circuit breaker switch that can fail and cause loss of braking and steering assist. Lion will inspect and repair the switch for free.
What should I do if my 2017-2021 Lion Lionc is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 21V968. If it is, contact Lion customer service at 1-855-546-6706 to arrange the 12V circuit breaker switch inspection and repair. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Lion will inspect and repair the 12V circuit breaker switch free of charge for included 2017-2021 Lionc school buses.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loss of braking and steering assist. If the 12V circuit breaker switch fails, the driver has less help with braking and steering, which increases crash risk. The fix is a free Lion inspection and switch repair.
When were owners notified about recall 21V968?
Lion mailed owner notification letters on January 10, 2021. If you own or operate a 2017-2021 Lion Lionc school bus and never received a letter, check your VIN and reference recall 21V968 when contacting Lion customer service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V968000 |
|---|---|
| Lion customer service | 1-855-546-6706 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V968 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V968000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →