Freightliner LLC: Exterior Lighting › Headlights › Switch
Freightliner LLC reported this defect to federal regulators on Jun 30, 2000 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 803. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES WITH WELDON TECHNOLOGIES' 5050-1400 SURFACE MOUNT MARKER LIGHTS HAVE AN OPTION TO REPLACE EACH OF THE TWELVE CLEARANCE/MARKER/IDENTIFICATION LIGHTS WITH FOUR-CANDLEPOWER LIGHTS, TWICE THE CANDLEPOWER NORMALLY USED. THE HIGHER CURRENT DEMAND CREATED BY THESE LIGHTS CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE HEAT THROUGH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTION IF A RELAY IS NOT INSTALLED BETWEEN THE COMBINATION TAIL/MARKER LIGHT CIRCUIT AND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
The risk
THIS CAN RESULT IN DEFORMATION OF THE PLASTIC CONNECTORS THAT CONNECT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO ITS WIRING HARNESS.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY TO REDUCE THE CURRENT DRAW THROUGH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 8, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-336-881-7219.
14 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 Thomas ER Transit | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 2000 Thomas MVP | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Thomas ER Transit | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1999 Thomas MVP | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 Thomas ER Transit | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1998 Thomas MVP | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 Thomas ER Transit | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 Thomas MVP | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 Thomas ER Transit | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 Thomas MVP | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 Thomas ER Transit | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 Thomas MVP | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 Thomas ER Transit | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 Thomas MVP | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
What this page is, and what to do next
A recall is not an opinion. It is a Part 573 report a manufacturer is required by federal law to file once it decides a defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety, and it commits them to repairing the vehicle at no cost to the owner. The three passages above are the manufacturer’s own wording as published by NHTSA.
This page describes the campaign. It cannot tell you whether one particular car has already been through the shop — that is tracked by VIN, and only the manufacturer knows it. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with a franchised dealer, quoting campaign number 00V174000.
Full record for the 2000 Thomas ER Transit → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →