IllustrationWHERE HEATER HOSES PASS OVER REAR WHEEL WELL 3 STUDENTS RECEIVED BURNS WHEN THEY TOUCHED COVERING. *AK
2002 Thomas School Bus
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 School Bus 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.
- Service Brakes, Air. Review the 1 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Visibility. 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.
0 crash reports0 fire reports1 injury reports
Visibility complaints
1 reportsOfficial 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
2EA04014 · School Bus Lighting Failures
Opened Jun 9, 2004 · Closed Dec 20, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch; Interior Lighting
SEE ATTACHED FOUR PAGE TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
SEE ATTACHED FOUR PAGE TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Interior Lighting
SEE ATTACHED FOUR PAGE TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
PE04012 · Headlight Switch Failures
Opened Feb 2, 2004 · Closed Jun 9, 2004
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch; Interior Lighting
ODI HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL FAILED SWITCHES THAT SHOW SIGNS OF MELTING OR DAMAGE FROM OVER- HEATING.THE SWITCH SUPPLIER HAS INITIATED A TEST PROGRAM TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THESE FAILURES.ODI IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF A HEAT SOURCE THAT POTENTIALLY COULD LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AS WELL AS THE ABSENCE OF NECESSARY VEHICLE LIGHTING.ODI WILL CONTINUE ITS INVESTIGATION TO VERIFY THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM REPRESENTED BY THE REPORTED FAILURES AND EVALUATE THE ASSOCIATED RISKS.
Additional source detail variants (2)
Exterior Lighting:headlights:switch
ODI HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL FAILED SWITCHES THAT SHOW SIGNS OF MELTING OR DAMAGE FROM OVER- HEATING.THE SWITCH SUPPLIER HAS INITIATED A TEST PROGRAM TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THESE FAILURES.ODI IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF A HEAT SOURCE THAT POTENTIALLY COULD LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AS WELL AS THE ABSENCE OF NECESSARY VEHICLE LIGHTING.ODI WILL CONTINUE ITS INVESTIGATION TO VERIFY THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM REPRESENTED BY THE REPORTED FAILURES AND EVALUATE THE ASSOCIATED RISKS.
Interior Lighting
ODI HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL FAILED SWITCHES THAT SHOW SIGNS OF MELTING OR DAMAGE FROM OVER- HEATING.THE SWITCH SUPPLIER HAS INITIATED A TEST PROGRAM TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THESE FAILURES.ODI IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF A HEAT SOURCE THAT POTENTIALLY COULD LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AS WELL AS THE ABSENCE OF NECESSARY VEHICLE LIGHTING.ODI WILL CONTINUE ITS INVESTIGATION TO VERIFY THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM REPRESENTED BY THE REPORTED FAILURES AND EVALUATE THE ASSOCIATED RISKS.