Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators, most often about the engine and engine cooling › engine. It has been recalled 6 times.
Filed Dec 7, 1998500 vehiclesThomas Built Buses, Inc.
Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON A NAVISTAR CHASSIS. THE CROSS VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 111, "REARVIEW MIRRORS." THE ENTIRE TOP SURFACE OF CYLINDER H IS NOT VISIBLE AS REQUIRED.
Risk. A DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE BUS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY TO PERSONS NEAR THE BUS.
Remedy. OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A REPAIR KIT AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THOMAS BUILT DEALERS CAN PERFORM THE REPAIR FOR THEM.
Seats97V192000
Filed Nov 1, 19972,391 vehiclesThomas Built Buses, Inc.
Defect. 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."
Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY PROTECTED INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy. 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.
Structure › Body96V139000
Filed Jul 23, 1996120,371 vehiclesThomas Built Buses, Inc.
Defect. 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.
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 SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy. 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.
Structure › Body96V105000
Filed Jun 17, 19966,358 vehiclesThomas Built Buses, Inc.
Defect. AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD, SUCH AS A LONG DRAWSTRING, SASH, OR BACKPACK/BOOKBAG ACCESSORY CAN BECOME CAUGHT IN A SMALL OPENING AT THE FLOOR LEVEL OF THE FORWARD DOOR POST.
Risk. A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING COULD BECOME CAUGHT IN THE SMALL OPENING AND IF THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Remedy. A FILLER PLATE WILL BE ATTACHED ON THOMAS CONVENTIONALS OR A PIECE OF RUBBER TRIM ON THOMAS VISTAS TO THE FORWARD DOOR POST AT THE FLOOR LEVEL TO COVER THE OPENING AND ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF SNAGGING.
Seat Belts › Front › Anchorage95V135000
Filed Jul 20, 199517 vehiclesThomas Built Buses, Inc.
Defect. THE WRONG ATTACHMENT BOLTS WERE USED ON THE DRIVER'S SEAT. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO.209, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLIES."
Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THE SEAT OCCUPANT WOULD SUFFER INCREASED RISK OF INJURY IF THE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE FAILED IN A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
Remedy. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE NONCOMPLYING 5/16" BOLTS FROM THE ANCHORAGES AND REPLACE THEM WITH 7/16" BOLTS.
Visibility › Glass, Side/Rear95V087000
Filed May 1, 1995350 vehiclesThomas Built Buses, Inc.
Defect. THE ROOF HATCHES ON THESE BUSES DO NOT MEET THE EXTERIOR HANDLE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 217, "BUS WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."
Risk. 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. DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING ROOF HATCH LID AND REPLACE IT WITH A LID EQUIPPED WITH AN EXTERIOR HANDLE.
What owners reported
Newest filings
Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine
Filed Aug 7, 2000OH
HEAD GASKET FAILED AT 60,000 WHILE STILL UNDER WARRANTY, AGAIN AT 85,000 AND THEN AGAIN AT THE PRESENT. *AK
No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.
Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.
Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.
Most recent recall on file: Dec 7, 1998. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.