1998 New Flyer D40lf Recalls

Recalls on record Updated July 2026

The 1998 New Flyer D40lf has 9 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 9,644 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the engine and engine cooling. Last updated July 5, 2026.

Recall campaigns

EXTERIOR LIGHTING 07V068000 2007-02-23 1,707 affected
Defect

CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE FLASHING DECELERATION LAMPS WERE AN OPTIONAL ITEM FOR SOME OF THESE BUSES.

Consequence

THE STANDARD REQUIRES THAT THE DECELERATION LAMP IS A SOLID LIGHT RATHER THAN A FLASHING LIGHT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REWIRE THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM TO REMOVE THE FLASHING FUNCTION OR INSTALL A NEW PROGRAMMABLE LOGIC CONTROLLER (PLC) WHICH WILL MAKE THE LAMPS BURN STEADY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 5, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT NEW FLYER AT 204-934-4874.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 05V320000 2005-07-08 321 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH DETROIT DIESEL SERIES 40 ENGINES, THE TURBOCHARGER CAN FAIL ALLOWING LUBRICATING OIL TO SPILL ONTO THE ENGINE.

Consequence

THIS CAN RESULT IN A FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE TURBOCHARGER TO PREVENT THE POSSIBILITY OF AN ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE. DETROIT DIESEL IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DETROIT DIESEL AT 313-592-3708 OR NEW FLYER AT 1-204-982-8400.

STEERING 02V112000 2002-05-22 480 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN LOW FLOOR BUSES, THE POWER STEERING HOSE WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED.

Consequence

THE HOSE CAN LEAK, CREATING THE RISK OF AN ENGINE FIRE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE HOSE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 1, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NEW FLYER AT 1-204-228-8984.

STRUCTURE 02V059001 2002-02-14 1,771 affected
Defect

ON CERTAIN LOW FLOOR TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ADHESIVELY BONDED ALUMINUM BUS DOOR PANELS, DUE TO AN IMPERFECT BONDING OF THE DOOR PANEL SKIN TO THE PANEL FRAME, ENVIRONMENTAL MOISTURE MAY INFILTRATE REGIONS OF IMPERFECT BONDING AND CAUSE SEPARATION OF THE FRAME AND DOOR PANEL.

Consequence

UNDER THESE CONDITIONS, IF THE PANEL IS SEPARATING OR HAS SEPARATED, A PASSENGER COULD FALL FROM THE BUS ONTO THE ROADWAY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy

VAPOR WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS TO HAVE THEIR BUSES INSPECTED AND WILL INSTALL MECHANICAL FASTENERS TO ATTACH THE SKINS TO THE FRAME ELEMENTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 10, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE…

STEERING 01V265000 2001-08-22 1,552 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES. THE CLAMP NUTS FOR THE CENTER LINK TIE RODS MAY HAVE BEEN INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED.

Consequence

INADEQUATELY TIGHTENED CLAMP NUTS COULD LEAD TO THE TIE RODS SEPARATING FROM THE CENTER LINK POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

NEW FLYER WILL WILL INSPECT THE TIE ROD END CLAMP LOCK NUTS TO ENSURE THAT THE NUTS ARE PROPERLY TIGHTENED. ANY DAMAGED TIE RODS WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 17, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY…

SUSPENSION 01V160000 2001-05-22 978 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES. THERE COULD BE A CASTING DEFECT IN THE LEFT SIDE SPRING TOWER. THE SPRING TOWERS SUPPORT THE VEHICLE STRUCTURE, AND FAILURE OF A TOWER COULD CAUSE A SUDDEN SHIFT IN THE FRONT AXLE.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SPRING TOWER. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING MAY 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT NEW FLYER AT 1-204-982-8181.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 01V033006 2001-04-30 2,100 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH VANNER 60 SERIES BATTERY EQUALIZERS. THE EQUALIZER COULD FAIL TO OPERATE PROPERLY AND CAUSE MALFUNCTION OF THE BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM.

Consequence

WITHOUT FUSING, THE EQUALIZER MAY MELT, BURN, OR SMOKE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE OR A SMOKE FILLED BUS, THUS NECESSITATING A PASSENGER EVACUATION OF THE BUS. THE FAILURE MODE CAN CAUSE OPERATOR DISTRACTION, AND/OR POSSIBLE PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BUSES FOR CERTAIN EQUALIZERS BY THE DATE CODE. THE AFFECTED EQUALIZERS WILL BE REPLACED BY VANNER. NEW FLYER IS CONDUCTING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY…

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 00V275000 2000-09-15 206 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ABS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE REAR BRAKE RELEASE TIME CAN EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS.

Consequence

A SLOW BRAKE RELEASE CAN CAUSE PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

THE REPAIR WILL INVOLVE INSTALLING A QUICK RELEASE VALVE OR INCREASING THE SIZE OF THE REAR BRAKE CONTROL LINE.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR 99V077000 1999-04-13 529 affected
Defect

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES. THE REAR BRAKE RELEASE TIME CAN EXCEED THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121.

Consequence

A SLOW BRAKE RELEASE CAN CAUSE PREMATURE BRAKE WEAR WHICH IF LEFT UNCHECKED COULD LEAD TO BRAKE FAILURE AND VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INCREASE THE REAR BRAKE DELIVERY LINES AND THE REAR BRAKE SIGNAL LINE.

Complaints by component

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
1
PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL
1
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
1
Total complaints3

What owners report

Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.

“Body of the coach is falling apart due to the nuts that hold the floor down are coming apart. Also, there is a leak which is coming from seals to the engine head gasket that go around the water that is leaking. In addition, emergency brake doesn't work. *ak”

STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS · reported 1998-06-30

“Body of the coach is falling apart due to the nuts that hold the floor down are coming apart. Also, there is a leak which is coming from seals to the engine head gasket that go around the water that is leaking. In addition, emergency brake doesn't work. *ak”

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE · reported 1998-06-30

“Body of the coach is falling apart due to the nuts that hold the floor down are coming apart. Also, there is a leak which is coming from seals to the engine head gasket that go around the water that is leaking. In addition, emergency brake doesn't work. *ak”

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL · reported 1998-06-30

Defect investigations

Investigation PE07053 Opened 2007-10-29 · closed 2008-02-22

INTERIOR FIRES

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATIONBASED ON A FLEET REPORT OF 3 THERMAL EVENTS ALLEGEDLYTHE RESULT OF CONDENSATION FROM THE AIR CONDITIONER'S EVAPORATOR DRAIN HOSE SHORTING ELECTRICAL CONNECTIONS AND VARIOUS ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED TO EVALUATE AND…

Sources & methodology

Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1998 New Flyer D40lf as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.