Hearth Record

Electrical system (Optima, Nabi and Blue Bird)

Vehicle recall 13V-457. NHTSA received North American Bus Industries, Inc.’s report on Sep 19, 2013.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received North American Bus Industries, Inc.’s report on Sep 19, 2013. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 28, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.

North American Bus Industries (NABI) is recalling certain model year 2000-2011 LFW, CLFW, BRT, 2007-2009 Blue Bird L4RE, and 2000-2009 Optima Opus transit buses equipped with Sure Power battery equalizers containing a particular epoxy sealing, aka ‘potting’, compound.

The specific potting compound used in the subject products for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Electrical system.

What should you do?

NABI will notify owners, and dealers will replace the equalizers, free of charge. An interim letter was mailed to owners on January 27, 2014. Owners may contact NABI at 1-256-831-4296. NABI’s recall number is 20136.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 4,061 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Optima Opusand 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and 2009, before the model years listed here
  • Nabi LFWand 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, before the model years listed here
  • Nabi CLFWand 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, before the model years listed here
  • Nabi BRTand 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011, before the model years listed here
  • Blue Bird L4REand 2007, 2008 and 2009, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by North American Bus Industries, Inc..
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

  • National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Recalls flat file (FLAT_RCL_POST_2010).

    Released Oct 28, 2026 and checked Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work).

Source:

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 28, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

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Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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