IF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURS, IT CAN CAUSE LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE AND A POSSIBLE VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy & full details
THOMAS BUILT WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH REPAIR PARTS AND DETAILED REPAIR PROCEDURES TO SECURE THE CABLE TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES, THOMAS BUILT WILL PERFORM THE REPAIR FOR THEM.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH IN-LINE SIX ENGINE,"S" TYPE FRAME RAILS AND SIDE MOUNTED BATTERY BOX. THE BATTERY CABLE ROUTING ALLOWS THE POSITIVE CABLE TO CHAFE RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE CABLE.
THOMAS BUILT WILL REPLACE THE TYPE III PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE WITH THE NEWER DESIGN "GENERATION 2.5" PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE.
SOME TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE TRIGGERS WERE NOT X-RAYED. THESE TRIGGERS COULD CONTAIN INTERNAL VOIDS THAT WOULD MAKE THE TRIGGERS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ADVANCED CREEP CAUSING FALSE ACTIVATION AND VENTING OF THE CNG.
Serious04V398000
Structure:Body
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, PASSENGERS COULD BE SERIOUSLY INJURED.
Remedy & full details
THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A FREE REMEDY. THE RECALL BEGAN AUGUST 5, 2005. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE A FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME SHOULD CONTACT THOMAS BUILT CUSTOMER SUPPORT OFFICE AT 336-889-4871.
CERTAIN 1995 AND 1996 MY THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES BUILT BETWEEN JANUARY 1, 1995, AND FEBRUARY 29, 1996, WHICH ARE PREDOMINATELY OPERATED ON UNIMPROVED ROADS MAY HAVE DEVELOPED CRACKS IN THE BUS BODY FRAMING STRUCTURE MEMBERS (RAFTERS) NEAR THE HORIZONTAL WINDOW HEADER WELDS AND AT THE SIDE EMERGENCY EXIT DOORS.
Serious96V164000
Structure:Body
IF AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD WERE TO CATCH ON THIS AREA, AND THE DRIVER WERE TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy & full details
THE EXISTING 1" BOLTS THAT SECURE THE HANDRAIL SUPPORT WILL BE REPLACED WITH 1/2" BOLTS.
AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD, SUCH AS A LONG DRAWSTRING, SASH, OR BACKPACK/BOOKBAG ACCESSORY, CAN BECOME CAUGHT ON THE FATENERS THAT SECURE THE HANDRAIL SUPPORT TO THE HANDRAIL.
Serious96V139000
Structure:Body
IF AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD WERE TO CATCH ON THIS AREA, AND THE DRIVER WERE TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy & full details
A MOLDED COVER WILL BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE MANUALLY OPERATED OUTWARD OPENING ENTRANCE DOOR AND THE DOOR CONTROL ROD ATTACHING BRACKET WHICH WILL ELIMINATE THE OPENING THAT COULD ALLOW AN ITEM OF A CHILD'S CLOTHING TO BECOME SNAGGED.
AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD, SUCH AS A LONG DRAWSTRING, SASH, OR BACKPACK/BOOKBAG ACCESSORY, CAN BECOME CAUGHT IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE SERVICE DOOR AND THE DOOR CONTROL ROD ATTACHING BRACKET.
Serious97V192000
Seats
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY PROTECTED raises the risk of PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy & full details
OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH REPAIR PARTS AND A DETAILED REPAIR PROCEDURE. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THOMAS BUILT WILL PERFORM THE REPAIR FOR THEM.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THE FLIP SEATS INSTALLED ON THESE BUSES DO NOT MEET THE REARWARD PUSH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 222, "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION."
Serious97V018000
Electrical System:Wiring
THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE POWER raises the risk of A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy & full details
THOMAS BUILT WILL SHIP REPAIR PARTS AND A DETAILED REPAIR PROCEDURE TO THE BUS OWNERS. THE REPAIR WILL CONSIST OF REMOVING THE ORIGINAL NUT, LOCATED AT THE ELECTRICAL PANEL, THAT SECURES THE VEHICLE'S MAIN POWER SUPPLY, AND REPLACING IT WITH A FLAT WASHER AND LOCKING NUT.
THE NUT THAT SECURES THE VEHICLE'S MAIN POWER SUPPLY CAN LOOSEN CAUSING LOSS OF CONTACT.
Moderate97V030000
Service Brakes, Air:Drum:Chamber
IF THE DAMAGE TO THE CLAMP BAND RESULTED IN BAND BREAKAGE, THE CHAMBER COULD COME APART RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE SERVICE BRAKES.
Remedy & full details
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE CHAMBER FOR SIGNS OF CONTACT. IF CONTACT IS INDICATED, THE BRAKE CAM SHAFT AND CHAMBER SUPPORT BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED, ELIMINATING THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND THE SUSPENSION BEAM.
CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND THE SUSPENSION BEAM CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE CHAMBER CLAMP BAND.
Moderate97V020000
Service Brakes, Air
THESE BUSES DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO.
Remedy & full details
THOMAS BUILT WILL PROVIDE THE OWNERS WITH REPAIR PARTS AND A DETAILED REPAIR PROCEDURE. THE REPAIR WILL CONSIST OF CHANGING THE ORIGINAL REAR SLACK ADJUSTERS AND FRONT BRAKE CHAMBERS AND INCREASING THE AIR RESERVOIR VOLUME.
THESE BUSES WITH GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS (GVWR) OF 36,200, DO NOT MEET THE BRAKE SIZE AND POWER REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS," FOR VEHICLES OF THAT GVWR.
Moderate96V021000
Service Brakes, Air:Drum:Chamber
IF THE DAMAGE TO THE CLAMP BAND RESULTED IN BAND BREAKAGE, THE CHAMBER COULD COME APART RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE SERVICE BRAKES.
Remedy & full details
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE CHAMBER FOR SIGN OF CONTACT. IF CONTACT IS INDICATED, THE BRAKE CAM SHAFT AND CHAMBER SUPPORT BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED, ELIMINATING THE POSSIBLITY OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND THE SUSPENSION BEAM.
CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND THE SUSPENSION BEAM CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE CHAMBER CLAMP BAND.
Moderate95V087000
Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, RESCUE PERSONNEL MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE ROOF HATCHES FROM THE OUTSIDE.
Remedy & full details
DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING ROOF HATCH LID AND REPLACE IT WITH A LID EQUIPPED WITH AN EXTERIOR HANDLE.
THE ROOF HATCHES ON THESE BUSES DO NOT MEET THE EXTERIOR HANDLE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 217, "BUS WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."
Complaint volume
Volume alone is not a fault rate — popular vehicles attract more reports. Read it next to the severity mix below.
What owners reported happened
0Crashes
0Fires
0Injuries
0Deaths
Across 1 complaints. Severity Index 0.00.
Severity Index weights each complaint's reported outcome (death ×10, injury ×4, fire ×3, crash ×2) and divides by total complaints. It measures how severe reports are, not how often faults occur.
What owners report most
Structure:Frame And Members — 1 reports
What to do
Find your 17-character VIN on the driver's door jamb or the base of the windscreen.
Check it against NHTSA's official lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls — the authoritative record for your exact car.
Book the repair with any franchised dealer. Safety recall work is free, with no time limit and regardless of who owns the car now.
Numbers in brackets are open recall campaigns for that year.
Questions
Does an open recall mean the car is unsafe to drive?
Not usually. NHTSA issues a "do not drive" or "park outside" advisory when a defect is dangerous enough to keep you out of the car — those are flagged Critical above. Everything else should be repaired promptly but is not an immediate stop-driving order.
Do I pay for recall repairs?
No. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix a safety recall free of charge, including parts and labour, whether or not you are the original owner.
Why are there complaints but no recalls?
Complaints are unverified reports filed by owners. They can prompt an investigation, but many never become recalls — either the fault isn't safety-related or it isn't widespread.
From the same data desk
Independent sites, same maintainer, same open-data standards.