Turbocharger Failure

What NHTSA is examining

The Office of Defects (ODI) received a Product Improvement Program (10RG264) from John Deere in January 2011 concerning failed turbochargers on transit buses.This Product Improvement Program (PIP) was exclusive to their 8.1L compressed natural gas (CNG) engine.However, the PIP only covers transit busses in the state of California.John Deere indicated that in the event of a failure, the entire turbocharger was to be replaced as part of the repair.The ODI contacted consumers (supplied by the manufacture as complainants) and most described a condition that once the turbo failed, the vehicle became stranded.One consumer detailed a failure where the cab started to fill up with smoke while the vehicle was stalled, subsequently the turbo was on fire.The fire was eventually extinguished however the vehicle was stranded and needed to be towed.On June 11, 2012 ODI received John Deere's response to an ODI Information Request (IR) letter.From the responsive information it was determined that the risk of turbo fires as related to stalling/abandonment warranted an equipment safety recall.John Deere made ODI aware of 265 complaints and 22 possible vehicle fires for a population of approximately 3,500 vehicles.ODI notes that John Deere had not determined the exact number of affected vehicles, or a specific recall remedy at the closing of this investigation.However all vehicles (not just the vehicles located in California.) similarly configured and within the scope of this investigation will…

Vehicles under investigation