Fuel system, other: storage (Orion and SCI)
Vehicle equipment recall 04E-038. NHTSA received STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES INDUSTRIES’s report on May 20, 2004.
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The short answer
NHTSA received STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES INDUSTRIES’s report on May 20, 2004. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 20, 2026.
Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.
What’s wrong with it?
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE FIRE WITH THE FUEL SYSTEM ROOF ENCLOSURE REMOVED OR OPENED, THE FUEL CONTAINER’S PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES MAY NOT ACTIVATE AS THEY ARE DESIGNED TO DO AND THE FUEL CONTAINER COULD RUPTURE AND EXPLODE. SUCH AN EXPLOSION, IF IT WERE TO OCCUR, COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURIES OR DEATH TO OCCUPANTS OF THE BUS OR TO PERSONS OUTSIDE THE BUS.
CERTAIN COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL CONTAINERS, MODEL ALT823D, P/N 1273147, EQUIPPED ON CERTAIN 2003 AND 2004 ORION VII BUSES.
THE NVG CONTAINER’S PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES FAIL TO TIMELY AND FULLY ACTIVATE AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 304, COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL CONTAINER INTEGRITY.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- NHTSA’s part: Fuel system, other: storage.
What should you do?
STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES WILL REPLACE THE PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE FREE OF CHARGE. STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES IS EXPECTED TO NOTIFY THE OWNERS OF AFFECTED ORION VII BUSES IN JUNE 2004. THE RECALL BEGAN FEBRUARY 2005.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- How to reach the firm: ALSO, CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
Which ones are recalled?
NHTSA counts 2,030 items potentially involved, across everything this recall names.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
- Orion VIINHTSA gives no dates made
- SCI ALT823DNHTSA gives no dates made
- Orion Orion VIINHTSA gives no dates made
Who is recalling it?
- Made by STRUCTURAL COMPOSITES INDUSTRIES.
NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily.
What the record doesn’t say
- NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
- Which ones, by part or lot: the recall’s report on NHTSA’s site gives them where the maker did; this file gives part numbers only where its maker listed them.
- How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Hearth Record wrote these lines.
Sources
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National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file before 2010 (FLAT_RCL_PRE_2010).
Released Oct 20, 2026 and checked Oct 20, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).
Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 20, 2026.