AI Damage2019 Proterra Catalyst: common problems
The maker issued 137 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 137
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 0 | 0 | 60 |
| Structure | 0 | 0 | 35 |
| Powertrain | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| Service brakes | 0 | 0 | 15 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 0 | 0 | 12 |
| Equipment | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Steering | 0 | 0 | 5 |
| Suspension | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Visibility | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Engine | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Engine and cooling | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Exterior lighting | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Parking brake | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Seats | 0 | 0 | 1 |
Comparison
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Structure. Rails, pillars, panel gaps, signs of pulling or welding.
- Powertrain. Shift quality under load, harsh shifts, transmission codes, CV joints.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Pin location change on an ECU to properly assign both doors open signal and the horn relay signal
- Transit bus software update to the HVAC provided by the vendor due to the ability to heat with no cabin…
Transit bus software update to the HVAC provided by the vendor due to the ability to heat with no cabin fan which results in the heater safety switch faulting.
- Transit bus repair to modify the plumbing of the hill hold solenoid to see slightly more pressure
- Transit bus repair to reduce or eliminate power steering noise on the 35' buses
- Transit bus repair to the coolant reservoir to prevent damage to the expansion tanks on the roof
- Transit bus software upgrade to the body, vehicle and dash controllers to improve diagnostic fault…
Transit bus software upgrade to the body, vehicle and dash controllers to improve diagnostic fault handling, remove unused parameters to simplify EEPROMs.
- Transit bus repair to the aux heater drain plug for sizing and material appears the bill of materials…
Transit bus repair to the aux heater drain plug for sizing and material appears the bill of materials called out the wrong size drain plug.
- Transit bus repair to the defroster unit to add an additional temp sensor to have a back up for…
Transit bus repair to the defroster unit to add an additional temp sensor to have a back up for temperature controls.
- Transit bus repair to the ADA ramp as the ramp was not deploying to ground level
- Transit bus repair to replace a fitting on the fire suppression system that has potential to chaff against…
- Transit bus repair to the aux heat convectors to secure wiring harness, it was found the previous adhesive…
Transit bus repair to the aux heat convectors to secure wiring harness, it was found the previous adhesive material used would debond when heated.
- Transit bus repair to the electrical cabinet behind the drivers area
This bulletin updates the bracketry to be more robust in this area.
NHTSA lists 137 bulletins for this year; the 12 newest are shown here.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Proterra Catalyst?
There are no owner complaints in the NHTSA data for this year; the data comes from 137 manufacturer service bulletins.
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 Proterra Catalyst?
NHTSA lists 137 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 Proterra Catalyst from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-04.