Hearth Record

Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator (Orion)

Vehicle recall 98V-189. NHTSA received ORION BUS INDUSTRIES, INC.’s report on Aug 10, 1998.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received ORION BUS INDUSTRIES, INC.’s report on Aug 10, 1998. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 23, 2026.

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

What’s wrong with it?

THE ALTERNATOR CAN GET HOT ENOUGH TO CATCH FIRE WHICH COULD SPREAD TO OTHER AREAS OF THE VEHICLE.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CHALLENGER 2000 MODEL 170 SERIES ALTERNATORS.

THE POSITIVE POWER STUD MAY NOT BE PROPERLY SEATED IN PLACE CAUSING A LOOSE CONNECTION.

THIS LOOSE CONNECTION CAUSES AN OVER-HEAT CONDITION WHEN THE ALTERNATOR IS UNDER A LOAD.

ALSO THE MATERIAL USED TO INSULATE THE POWER STUD FROM THE RECTIFIER CAN TEAR AND CAUSE THE POSITIVE POWER STUD TO GROUND TO THE ALTERNATOR CASE.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator.

What should you do?

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THESE ALTERNATORS.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING AUGUST 1998.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 NORTH POWER LLC AT 1-716-492-2278 OR ORION BUS AT 1-905-403-1111.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 45 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 23, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Orion IIand 1997 and 1998, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by ORION BUS INDUSTRIES, INC..
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 23, 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

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 23, 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.

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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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