FTA issues safety advisory for Nova Bus steering gearbox bolt failure
The Federal Transit Administration (FTA) issued a safety advisory requesting agencies submit information on potential steering gearbox bolt failures involving Nova Bus vehicles.
FTA is recommending transit agencies identify any Nova Bus models manufactured in 2018 or later that use a Bosch steering gearbox mounting plate assembly. The three 7/8-inch bolts that secure the steering gearbox mounting plate assembly to the vehicle frame, which if found to be loose or missing, can impede an operator’s ability to control the steering of the bus.
Nova Bus recommends a visual inspection to confirm the presence of the three bolts, a visual inspection to confirm the torque seal marks are not broken on the bolts, a torque inspection and retorque and to apply new torque seal marks to the bolts. Both FTA and Nova Bus are requesting reports be shared with them on non-conforming elements.
In a safety recall through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), Nova Bus noted it considered the action a proactive measure, and it had not received any reports of injury or death associated with the defect. The safety recall was found to involve Nova Bus Low Floor Series (LFS) and LFS Artic vehicles, but FTA is recommending any Nova Bus vehicle manufactured from 2018 to 2022 be inspected.
Nova Bus issued a preventative delivery stop on Nov. 14, 2022, and notes any vehicle delivered after this date will have a permanent remedy for the defect. This permanent remedy consists of a hardware change limiting the maximum clamp load and different torquing strategy to increase the clamp load nominal value and also reduce the clamp load scatter.
Nova Bus and FTA are working to mitigate the issue and have identified seven transit agencies that could be impacted by the defect, but FTA recommends all agencies review their fleet to determine if there are additional vehicles that are affected.
Nova Bus is conducting an investigation and is expected to issue a formal service bulletin to customers at the completion of this investigation.
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The FTA Safety Advisory can be viewed here.
Nova Bus's NHTSA Safety Recall Report can be viewed here.
Mischa Wanek-Libman | Group Editorial Director
Mischa Wanek-Libman is director of communications with Transdev North America. She has more than 20 years of experience working in the transportation industry covering construction projects, engineering challenges, transit and rail operations and best practices.
Wanek-Libman has held top editorial positions at freight rail and public transportation business-to-business publications including as editor-in-chief and editorial director of Mass Transit from 2018-2024. She has been recognized for editorial excellence through her individual work, as well as for collaborative content.
She is an active member of the American Public Transportation Association's Marketing and Communications Committee and served 14 years as a Board Observer on the National Railroad Construction and Maintenance Association (NRC) Board of Directors.
She is a graduate of Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Journalism and Mass Communication.
