Thomas Built Buses, Inc.: Structure › Body
Thomas Built Buses, Inc. reported this defect to federal regulators on Jul 25, 1997 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 8,187. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH MANUALLY OPERATED OUTWARD OPENING ENTRANCE DOORS. AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD, SUCH AS A LONG DRAWSTRING, SASH, OR BACKPACK/BOOKBAG ACCESSORY, CAN BECOMECAUGHT IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE SERVICE DOOR AND THE DOOR CONTROL ROD ATTACHING BRACKET.
The risk
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 IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy
THESE BUSES WERE ORIGINALLY INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 96V-139. HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL SNAGGING POINT BETWEEN THE SERVICE DOOR AND THE DOOR CONTROL ROD ATTACHING BRACKET. THEREFORE, OWNERS ARE BEING RENOTIFIED TO INSPECT THE ORIENTATION OF THE DOOR CONTROL. IF THE DOOR CONTROL DOES NOT MATCH THE ORIENTATION DESCRIBED IN THE RENOTIFICATION LETTER, THE OWNER WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE THE EXISTING CONTROL AND THE ORIGINAL RECALL REPAIR PART, REOIRIENT THE DOOR CONTROL, AND REINSTALL THE RECALL REPAIR PART.
7 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Thomas Minotour | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 Thomas Minotour | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 Thomas Minotour | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 Thomas Minotour | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 Thomas Minotour | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 Thomas Minotour | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 Thomas Minotour | 0 | 3 | 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 97V117000.
Full record for the 1996 Thomas Minotour → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →