Thomas Built Buses, Inc.: Electrical System › 12v/24v/48v Battery › Cables
Thomas Built Buses, Inc. reported this defect to federal regulators on Aug 22, 1997 and put the number of vehicles at risk at 8,107. The repair is free for as long as the recall stands.
The defect
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.
The risk
IF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURS, IT CAN CAUSE LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE AND A POSSIBLE VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy
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.
32 model years covered
Newest first| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Fires | Crashes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Thomas Chartour | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 Thomas Citiliner | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 Thomas MVP | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 |
| 1997 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 Thomas Chartour | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 Thomas Citiliner | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 Thomas MVP | 0 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| 1996 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 Thomas Chartour | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 Thomas Citiliner | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 Thomas MVP | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 1995 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 1 | 11 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 Thomas Chartour | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 Thomas Citiliner | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 Thomas MVP | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 |
| 1994 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 0 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 Thomas Chartour | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 Thomas Citiliner | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 Thomas MVP | 0 | 6 | 0 | 0 |
| 1993 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 0 | 10 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 Thomas Chartour | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 Thomas Citiliner | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 Thomas MVP | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 |
| 1992 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 Thomas Chartour | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 Thomas Citiliner | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 Thomas MVP | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1991 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 Thomas Chartour | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 Thomas Citiliner | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 Thomas MVP | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 1990 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 0 | 5 | 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 97V133000.
Full record for the 1997 Thomas Chartour → · Recalls carrying a do-not-drive advisory → · Where this data comes from →