Recall 25V898 covers 6,673 2013-2026 New Flyer buses with silent ABS or ESC module failure. Repair is free at any franchised New Flyer dealer.
New Flyer is recalling 6,673 2013-2026 transit buses, including the XDE40, XE35, XD35, and XE40, because the ABS and ESC module can lose communication and fail without turning on the warning lights. That failure leaves the driver without an ABS or ESC warning and increases crash risk; New Flyer dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The ABS/ESC module on these New Flyer transit buses is the electronic controller for antilock braking and stability control. In normal driving, it watches wheel and vehicle signals, helps prevent wheel lockup during braking, and helps the bus stay stable when traction changes. It also tells the dash when the system has a fault so the operator knows the protection is not available.
On included buses, the dash warning lamp relied only on J1939 network communication instead of a separate hard-wired lamp circuit. Earlier software did not send the heartbeat signal needed to confirm that the module was still connected and communicating. If the module loses power or communication, ABS and ESC stop working, and the expected warning light does not turn on.
The operator can see one warning sign at start-up. If the ABS lamp does not light briefly during the initial ignition or start-up sequence, the bus needs service attention before it returns to normal route use.
Who's affected?
The recall spans New Flyer bus families across 2013-2026, with the same ABS/ESC module family tied to braking and stability-control systems.
| 2025 New Flyer XDE40 | anti-lock brake system (ABS) |
|---|---|
| 2023 New Flyer XE35 | Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2023 New Flyer XE35 | anti-lock brake system (ABS) |
| 2024 New Flyer XE35 | Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2024 New Flyer XE35 | anti-lock brake system (ABS) |
| 2016 New Flyer XD35 | Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2016 New Flyer XD35 | anti-lock brake system (ABS) |
| 2019 New Flyer XE35 | Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2019 New Flyer XE35 | anti-lock brake system (ABS) |
| 2020 New Flyer XE35 | Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2020 New Flyer XE35 | anti-lock brake system (ABS) |
| 2022 New Flyer XD35 | Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2022 New Flyer XD35 | anti-lock brake system (ABS) |
| 2021 New Flyer XD35 | Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2021 New Flyer XD35 | anti-lock brake system (ABS) |
| 2018 New Flyer XD35 | Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2018 New Flyer XD35 | anti-lock brake system (ABS) |
| 2019 New Flyer XD35 | Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2019 New Flyer XD35 | anti-lock brake system (ABS) |
| 2020 New Flyer XD35 | Electronic stability control (esc) |
| 2020 New Flyer XD35 | anti-lock brake system (ABS) |
| Units affected | 6,673 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the ABS lamp does not light briefly when the bus is started, the driver loses a key warning that ABS or ESC is not communicating correctly. Without that alert, loss of ABS or ESC can go unnoticed and increase crash risk. Schedule the software update soon. Repair is free at any franchised New Flyer dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013-2026 New Flyer XD35, XDE35, XE35, XD40, XDE40, XE40, XHE40, XN35, XN40, XT40, XD60, XDE60, XE60, XHE60, XN60, or XT60 bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised New Flyer dealer to schedule the free software update that addresses ABS and ESC module communication loss and missing warning lights.
- Bring the owner notice if New Flyer mailed one, and reference recall number 25V898 when you call.
- Keep operators aware that ABS or ESC loss can occur without a warning light until the software update is complete.
- Call New Flyer customer service at 1-800-241-2947 with questions about the repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a New Flyer technician updates the ABS and ESC module software so the braking and stability systems keep communicating and warning lights work as intended. The software update and labor are free under the recall. New Flyer used its standard reimbursement plan for this campaign, so owners who already paid for the same software related repair can ask New Flyer customer service how to submit documented expenses.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 19, 2025 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| February 13, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| February 13, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
| February 17, 2026 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 25V898?
Recall 25V898 covers 6,673 2013-2026 New Flyer transit buses with ABS and ESC software that can lose communication and fail without turning on the warning lights. New Flyer will update the software for free.
What should I do if my 2013-2026 New Flyer transit bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm the bus is included in recall 25V898. If it is, contact New Flyer customer service at 1-800-241-2947 or a franchised New Flyer service location to arrange the free software update.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and New Flyer says it will update the affected ABS and ESC software free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is that the ABS or ESC warning light does not alert the driver when those systems lose communication. Per recall 25V898, that loss of warning increases the risk of a crash because the driver is not alerted to the system failure.
What warning signs should I watch for?
Do not rely on an ABS or ESC warning light for this defect. The recalled module can lose communication and fail without turning on the warning lights, so the VIN check and software update matter more than waiting for a dashboard alert.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/25V898000 |
|---|---|
| New Flyer customer service | 1-800-241-2947 |
| NHTSA recall # | 25V898 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 25V898000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (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 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →