DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 243,435 MY 1995-2008 THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1994, AND MARCH 10, 2008. (ADDITIONAL BUSES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT NO. 4) THE EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR HANDLE BEGINS CORRODING AROUND THE SECURING ROLL PIN AND SQUARE DRIVE MECHANISM CAUSING THE PROTECTIVE FINISH TO CHIP AND FLAKE. CONTINUED CORROSION AND PITTING WEAKENS THE HANDLE. HANDLES WEAKENED BY CORROSION MAY BREAK WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, A PERSON ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUS MAY BREAK THE DOOR HANDLE TRYING TO OPEN THE EMERGENCY EXIT POTENTIALLY DELAYING EVACUATION AND INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HANDLES WITH A MORE ROBUST HANDLE FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY THOMAS BUILT BUSES DEALERSHIPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2008, AND NOTIFICATION FOR THE REVISED POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 336-889-4871.

07V142000 · Seat Belts

Mar 27, 2007

CERTAIN MY 1994 THROUGH 2002 THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR, FS-65, MVP-EF, ER, AND HDX-EF SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 1994, AND APRIL 15, 2002. THE SEAT BELT MAY CHAFE ON THE EDGE OF A METAL BRACKET AND WEAR PREMATURELY.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE ANY CHAFED SEAT BELTS AND REPLACE OR MODIFY THE RETAINER STRIP TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER CHAFING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 336-889-4871 OR CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 800-547-0712.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE06057 · Seat Belts Webbing Abrading On Frame

Opened Nov 21, 2006 · Closed Mar 30, 2007

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seat Belts

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM TWO FLEETS ALLEGING THEDISCOVERY OFNUMEROUS SEAT BELTS WITH CUT WEBBING AS A RESULT OF THE WEBBING ABRADING AGAINST ANUNDERSEAT METAL BRACKET.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE CLASS A SCHOOL BUSES WEIGHING UNDER 10,000 POUNDS.THEY ARE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL STANDARD FMVSS 208 TO HAVE SEAT BELTS.AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, FREIGHTLINER WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO INSPECT ALL AFFECTED BUSES FOR SEAT BELT ?CHAFING? AND WILL REPLACEDAMAGED BELTS AS NEEDED. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT RETAINER STRIP WILL BE MODIFIED OR REPLACED TO PREVENT FUTURE CHAFING.FREIGHTLINER EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL (BEYOND THE ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION POPULATION) TO INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 10,251 ADDITIONAL BUSES HAVING GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS GREATER THAN 10,000 LBS.THEY DETERMINED THAT THESE BUSES ARE ALSO SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE CHAFING ACTION.THERE IS NO FEDERALREQUIREMENT FOR SEAT BELTS IN SCHOOL BUSES WEIGHING OVER 10,000 POUNDS.HOWEVER, SOME CUSTOMERS HAVE ORDERED SEAT BELTS AND SOME STATES HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR SEAT BELTS.THEREFORE, FREIGHTLINER HAS AGREED TO ADDRESS THOSE BUSES EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE FEDERAL STANDARD.THE RECALL ACTION TAKEN BY FREIGHTLINER RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.