IllustrationTHE AIR BAG DEFLATED CAUSING THE DRIVE SHAFT TO FAIL AND SEPARATE FROM THE BUS. THE REPAIR WAS DONE, BUT THE AIR BAG DEFLATED AGAIN. *YH
2002 Thomas SAF-T-LINER
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Limited comparison data
There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all SAF-T-LINER years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 0 of 2 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Power Train. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
1 crash reports0 fire reports0 injury reports
What owners actually said
2 reportsDRIVER HEARD A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE BUS AND PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE BUS. AIR RIDE BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. FOUND PROBLEM - A NUT HAD FALLEN OFF THE CONTROL ARM OF THE AIR PRESSURE VALVE, CAUSING AIR RIDE BAGS TO DEFLATE. IT WAS REPAIRED. BUS CONTINUED ON ROUTE. 15-20 SECONDS INTO ROUTE, DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AND BROKE OFF…
Read full complaint
DRIVER HEARD A NOISE FROM THE REAR OF THE BUS AND PULLED OVER AND CHECKED THE BUS. AIR RIDE BAGS WERE DEPLOYED. FOUND PROBLEM - A NUT HAD FALLEN OFF THE CONTROL ARM OF THE AIR PRESSURE VALVE, CAUSING AIR RIDE BAGS TO DEFLATE. IT WAS REPAIRED. BUS CONTINUED ON ROUTE. 15-20 SECONDS INTO ROUTE, DRIVE SHAFT FAILED AND BROKE OFF THE BUS, STRIKING A PASSING VEHICLE. IT KNOCKED A HOLE IN THE GAS TANK OF THE PASSING VEHICLE. WE WERE NOT WARNED THAT IF AIR RIDE BAGS WERE DEPLOYED, THE DRIVE LINE WOULD FAIL, WHICH COULD HAVE CAUSED DEATH TO STUDENTS ON THE BUS, PASSING MOTORISTS OR PEDESTRIANS.*AK
Official recalls
0No recalls in this snapshot.
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
0No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.