The Used Car Index

2016 Proterra Catalyst problems

No complaints are listed for the 2016 Proterra Catalyst. NHTSA's API and bulk file list none in this build.

Data build 2026-10-08.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as PROTERRA CATALYST.

At a glance

Complaints
0
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
6
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
724
Investigations
0
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
15

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Model-generated complaint tags: No complaints are listed for tagging.

Recalls

See new recalls and investigations this week.

6 recalls.

22V114000

Date: 2022-02-28. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: Proterra, Inc. (Proterra) is recalling certain 2017-2019 35 foot Catalyst E2, 2017-2019 40 foot E2, 2020-2021 35 foot RR, 2019-2020 40 foot RR, 2019-2022 40 foot ZX5, and 2020-2022 35 foot ZX5 buses. The plexus adhesive between the torque limiter plate and the bus body may be insufficient, causing the bolts that secure the steering gearbox to loosen.

Consequence: A loose steering gearbox can cause a loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will install a mechanical fastener and new bolts on the steering gearbox, and install a new torque plate, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 7, 2022. Owners may contact Proterra's customer service at 1-864-438-0000.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

19V283000

Date: 2019-04-09. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES.

Defect: Proterra, Inc. (Proterra) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Catalyst 40 buses equipped with an optional tow fitting and airline that allows a tow truck to operate the rear brakes on the vehicle. The mesh cap covering the airline for the tow fitting can be clogged with road debris in inclement weather, possibly resulting in a build up of air pressure in the rear brake system.

Consequence: A build up of air pressure can cause the brakes to drag and possibly overheat, increasing the risk of fire.

Remedy: Proterra will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional shield to the tow fitting that protects the mesh cap, free of charge. The recall began June 4, 2019. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

19V062000

Date: 2019-01-30. Systems: SUSPENSION, TIRES.

Defect: Proterra Inc., (Proterra) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Catalyst 40 and 35 transit buses. The affected vehicles are equipped with a four point height control system that may cause a load imbalance, overloading the front tires.

Consequence: An overloaded front tire may fail unexpectedly, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Proterra will notify owners, and dealers will convert the current four point ride height system into a three point system to prevent the front tires from being overloaded, free of charge. The recall began March 26, 2019. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

19V061000

Date: 2019-01-29. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR.

Defect: Proterra Inc., (Proterra) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Catalyst 40 transit buses. The affected vehicles lack a Graham White air brake supply reservoir, possibly resulting in long term moisture build up in the air brake system. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Consequence: Built-up of moisture in the air brake system may lead to brake failure, increasing the risk of crash.

Remedy: Proterra will notify owners, and dealers will install a supply reservoir with a drain between the air dryer and the air supply manifold, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 28, 2019. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

19V034000

Date: 2019-01-16. Systems: EQUIPMENT.

Defect: Proterra, Inc is recalling certain 2015-2018 Catalyst 40, and Catalyst 35 buses. The certification label may list an incorrect gross front axle weight rating and/or incorrect tire pressures. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of 49 CFR Part 567, "Certification."

Consequence: If the tire pressure is understated, an underinflated tire may result in an increased risk of tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Proterra will notify owners, and dealers will replace the certification labels with correct information for all affected customers, free of charge. The recall began March 12, 2019. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

18V750000

Date: 2018-10-23. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR.

Defect: Proterra is recalling certain 2016-2017 Proterra Catalyst 40 transit buses equipped with axles with radial air disk brakes. Surface roughness of a guide pin in the radial brake calipers may cause the brake carriage guide pin support bolt to break.

Consequence: Breakage of the guide pin can cause loss of braking ability or loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Proterra will notify owners and have them replace the calipers on the affected axles, free of charge. Owners may contact Proterra customer service at 1-864-438-0000.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

0 investigations; 0 open.

Manufacturer communications

15 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
STRUCTURE8
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM4
SERVICE BRAKES2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM1
LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES1
STEERING1
SUSPENSION1

11012919

Date: 2022-11-29. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Repair instructions for the telemetry system on the heavy duty transit buses if the system is not reporting.

11013355

Date: 2022-11-07. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Repair instructions for transit buses that are not TPI bodies to replace the gearbox fasteners with locking fasteners.

11014022

Date: 2022-11-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Transit bus repair to the electrical cabinet behind the drivers area. This bulletin updates the bracketry to be more robust in this area.

11010653

Date: 2022-10-22. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Repair instructions for ADA ramp brackets that have come debonded due to water intrusion.

11013594

Date: 2022-06-24. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES.

Transit bus update to the air in take of the air compressor to support the compressor getting clean air into the unit to increase reliability.

11013364

Date: 2022-04-22. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STEERING.

Transit bus quality check on bus bodies not produced by TPI. Inspecting the steering gear bolts to ensure torque strips are intact.

11013365

Date: 2022-01-27. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Transit bus repair instructions to install a drain in the cavity where the ADA ramp sits.

11013622

Date: 2021-09-21. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: SERVICE BRAKES.

Transit bus repair to the air compressor, the previous banjo fitting was prone to leaking, the solid drain plug prevents compressor from losing oil.

11013584

Date: 2021-08-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Transit bus fleet check to inspect the steering gearboxes and replace hardware.

11013953

Date: 2021-04-28. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Transit bus repair to the exterior compartment panels to include a larger latch catch to support tolerance difference.

Notes on this record

  • Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
  • System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
  • Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
  • A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.
  • NHTSA's complaints API and bulk file list no complaint for this make, model and model year in this data build.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
CATALYST0

Same model, other years

All model years | All Proterra models

Other Proterra models, 2016

Sources

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