Date: 2021-01-15
ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC
NHTSA Action Number: PE21002
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
Subject: Trolley bus circuit breaker fires
Opened From: 2021-01-15 - 2022-07-22
Summary
In a July 7, 2020 letter, Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) informed the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) of three separate fire incidents resulting in the total loss of eight of its Spirit of America trolley buses. These buses were manufactured by ARBOC Specialty Vehicles, LLC (Arboc) on incomplete chassis from Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation. Considering the safety concerns and substantial losses, LAWA grounded the remaining buses in its fleet. OnJanuary 15, 2021, NHTSA opened an investigation to determine if a defect in the subject vehicles exists and presents an unreasonable risk to vehicle occupants and nearby people or property. On February 24, 2021, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) sent an Information Request (IR) letter to Arboc. On April 8, 2021, ODI received an IR response from Arboc that included information on vehicle production, consumer complaints, field reports, warranty claims, manufacturer actions, vehicle changes and other data related to the alleged defect. On June 29, 2021, Arboc sent NHTSA a copy of an investigation report/update (Investigations into LAWA Thermal Events) done by a third-party investigation firm (hired by the chassis manufacturer) that included an assessment of the alleged defect/fires. ODI also engaged in discussions with the manufacturer about the alleged defect on multiple occasions during this investigation. Upon analysis of available data, ODI has not determined the existence of a safety defect. The third-party investigation report points to the 30-amp recessed circuit breaker as the hottest point in the vehicle during the December 21, 2019 fire (first fire) and suggests that it could have been a root cause for that fire. However, that report is inconclusive.Based on available information, the causation of the two subsequent fires appears unrelated to the circuit breaker. The second fire (February 2020) appears to have been caused by technician error during repair of fleet vehicles by Arboc pursuant to TSB AR 875. Information provided by Arboc from the third-party investigation indicates that the third fire (June 3, 2020) was likely caused by the intentional or negligent acts of individuals who gained unauthorized access to LAWA property and the trolleys themselves. NHTSA is not aware of fires other than the three described above in the LAWA fleet. There are other fleets with the same make and model trolley buses. Arboc has also previously taken several actions related to the subject vehicles. On June 9, 2020, Arboc issued TSB AR875 to secure the 30-amp recessed circuit breaker. On June 17, 2020, Arboc issued Recall 20V-335 to address misrouted power cables that may short circuit, increasing the risk of a fire. Since June 3, 2020, there have been no reports of vehicle fires and no reports of crash, injury, or death. Based on the available information, NHTSA has closed this investigation without finding a safety-related defect. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists. The Agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.
Investigation Documents
For Latest Documents related to this Investigation, visit the NHTSA Website.
Click the (+) Plus Sign
Then click Associated Document(s).
- Advanced VCI Box, Industry-leading J2534 Pass-Thru...
- High-Speed OEM-Level Diagnostics & Programming: Unlock true...
- Coverage for 17 Car Brands & Ultra Reliability: Works...
- User-Friendly RLink Platform & Expert Support: TOPDON’s...
- 6.6 ft USB-C Cable & Portable Storage Case: The RLink J...
Search NHTSA Database for Recalls
Search NHTSA Database for (TSB's) Technical Service Bulletins
Technical Service Bulletins TSB's List
Previous Investigation | Next Investigation |
- CEL Doctor: The ANCEL AD310 is one of the best-selling OBD II scanners on the market and is recommended by Scotty Kilmer, a YouTuber and auto mechanic. It can easily determine the cause of the check engine light coming on. After repairing the vehicle's problems, it can quickly read and clear diagnostic trouble codes of emission system, read live data & hard memory data, view freeze frame, I/M monitor readiness and collect vehicle information.
- Sturdy and Compact: Equipped with a 2.5 foot cable made of very thick, flexible insulation. It is important to have a sturdy scanner as it can easily fall to the ground when working in a car. The AD310 OBD2 scanner is a well-constructed mechanic tool with a sleek design. It weighs 12 ounces and measures 8.9 x 6.9 x 1.4 inches. Thanks to its compact design and light weight, transporting the device is not a problem. The buttons are clearly labelled and the screen is large and displays results clearly.
- Accurate Fast and Easy to Use: The AD310 scanner can help you or your mechanic understand if your car is in good condition, provides exceptionally accurate and fast results, reads and clears engine trouble emission codes in seconds after you fixed the problem. This device will let you know immediately and fix the problem right away without any car knowledge. No need for batteries or a charger, get power directly from the OBDII Data Link Connector in your vehicle.
- OBDII Protocols and Car Compatibility: Many cheap scan tools do not really support all OBD2 protocols. AD310 scanner as it can support all OBDII protocols such as KWP2000, J1850 VPW, ISO9141, J1850 PWM and CAN. This device also has extensive vehicle compatibility with 1996 US-based, 2000 EU-based and Asian cars, light trucks, SUVs, as well as newer OBD2 and CAN vehicles both domestic and foreign. Pls confirm with our customer service whether it is compatible with your vehicle before purchasing.
- Home Necessity and Worthy to Own: This is an excellent code reader to travel or home with as it weighs less and it is compact in design. You can easily slide it in your backpack as you head to the garage, or put it on the dashboard, this will be a great fit for you. The AD310 is not only portable, but also accurate and fast in performance. Moreover, it covers various car brands and is suitable for people who just need a code reader to check their car.
- Multi-Functions - Practical Multi-Functions OBD2 code reader features built-in OBD2 DTC lookup library, which help you to determine the cause of the engine light, read code, erase code, view freeze frame, I/M ready, vehicle information, data flow, real-time curve, get vehicle speed information, calculate load value, engine coolant temperature, get engine speed.
- Wide Capability - Supports 9 protocols compatible with most 1996 US-Based, 2000 EU-Based and Asian cars, and newer OBD II & CAN domestic or import vehicles. Supports 6 languages - English,German, Dutch, Spanish, French, Italian.
- 2.8" LCD Display - Designed with a clear display 2.8" Large LCD screen - white backlight and contrast adjustment. No need any battery or charger, OBD reader gets the power directly from your vehicle through the OBDII Data Link Connector.
- Compact Design - Car diagnostic scanner is equipped with a 2.5 feet long cable and made of a very thick flexible insulator.There are 6 buttons on OBD2 Scanner:scroll up/down,enter/exit and buttons that quick query VIN vehicle number& the DTC fault code.
- ABS / Airbag codes NOT Supported - It is able to read and clear check engine information which is part of OBDII system, but it cannot work with non-OBDII systems, including ABS / Airbag / Oil Service Light, etc.
- 【Your Personal CEL Doctor – Read & Clear Engine Codes】The NT301 OBD2 scanner lets you read diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs), check em-issions readiness, turn off your Check Engine Light (CEL) or MIL, reset monitors, and view live data streams. It retrieves your vehicle's VIN instantly. Like all standard OBD2 scanners, it clears codes only after repairs are completed—if the issue persists, the code will return. Designed for DIYers who want to understand what’s really going on under the hood.
- 【Easy Code Reading – Just Plug & Play】Simply plug into the OBD2 port, turn the ignition to “ON” (engine off), and select the correct menu: Select OBDII-> Wait for seconds-> Select Read codes. For accurate results, ensure your vehicle is compatible and the OBD2 port is free from damage or wiring issues. No batteries needed— powered directly by your car.
- 【Live Data Graphing & Accuracy for Most OBD2 Vehicles】View and log live sensor data in graph form—monitor oxygen sensors, fuel trims, coolant temp, RPM, and more. Spot trends and suspicious values in real time. Compatible with most 1996+ gasoline cars, light trucks, and SUVs sold in the U.S., as well as many 2000+ European and Asian models. Also works on 12V diesel vehicles equipped with OBD2.
- 【S-mog Check Helper – Know Your Readiness Status at a Glance】With dedicated I/M readiness hotkeys and a simple Red-Yellow-Green LED indicator, you’ll instantly know if your vehicle is ready for em-issions testing. Built-in speaker provides audio feedback. No guesswork—just confidence before you head to the test center.
- 【A Must-Have Tool for Every Home Mechanic】Compact, rugged, and ready to use right out of the box. The 2.8” color screen is easy to read, even in daylight. No charging or setup required—just plug into the 16-pin DLC and start diagnosing. Recommended by professional mechanics on YouTube and trusted by DIYers worldwide.
Last update on 2026-03-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
This product presentation was made with AAWP plugin.