SkipThatYearREAL DATA. SMARTER CAR DECISIONS.
← New search

2009 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 →
3Owner complaints

Model-year median: 0

0Recall campaigns

View recall details →

0Investigations

View investigation details →

How this year compares

Owner complaints by model year

Other model years Selected year
3
20092
20102
2011
Compare all School Bus years →

Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.

What owners reported most

Seats
2Electrical System
1

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: 3 of 3 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.

  • Seats. Review the 2 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. 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 reports1 fire reports0 injury reports

What owners actually said

3 reports
42,677 miles · Jun 10, 2014
Seats

STUDENT SEATS BROKEN. FIVE OUT OF FIFTEEN OF THE SEATS ON THIS BUS HAVE BROKEN SEAT BACKS. THE SHEET METAL BACKING IN THE INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRAME IS BREAKING AROUND THE SPOT WELDS WHERE IT IS WELDED TO THE STEEL TUBE FRAME. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE SEATS MANUFACTURED BY SYNTEC INC. MOST BUSSES RUNNING DOW…

Read full complaint

STUDENT SEATS BROKEN. FIVE OUT OF FIFTEEN OF THE SEATS ON THIS BUS HAVE BROKEN SEAT BACKS. THE SHEET METAL BACKING IN THE INTERIOR CONSTRUCTION OF THE FRAME IS BREAKING AROUND THE SPOT WELDS WHERE IT IS WELDED TO THE STEEL TUBE FRAME. THERE IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THESE SEATS MANUFACTURED BY SYNTEC INC. MOST BUSSES RUNNING DOWN THE ROAD HAVE BROKEN SEAT BACKS IF THEY HAVE NOT ALREADY BEEN REPAIRED. THE SEATS ARE THE SAFETY BARRIER FOR THE STUDENTS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH AND THIS COULD BE AFFECTING THE STUDENT SAFETY. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10597385

46,558 miles · May 30, 2014
Seats

SEAT BACKS BROKEN, SHEET METAL BACKING BREAKING AROUND THE SPOT WELDS WHERE IT IS SECURED TO THE TUBE FRAME. SYNTEC SEAT - MANUFACTURER. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10595064

72,354 miles · Nov 27, 2012
Electrical SystemFire

BUS WAS IN SERVICE AND ON ROUTE WITH STUDENTS ON BOARD. BUS INTERIOR STARTED FILLING WITH SMOKE. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND DID AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF STUDENTS. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE A/C 24 VOLT ALT HAD FULL FIELDED AND CAUSED THE WIRING TO COMPLETELY MELT THE SHEATHING ON THE ALT POWER WIRE. BACKFEED THROUGH TH…

Read full complaint

BUS WAS IN SERVICE AND ON ROUTE WITH STUDENTS ON BOARD. BUS INTERIOR STARTED FILLING WITH SMOKE. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND DID AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF STUDENTS. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE A/C 24 VOLT ALT HAD FULL FIELDED AND CAUSED THE WIRING TO COMPLETELY MELT THE SHEATHING ON THE ALT POWER WIRE. BACKFEED THROUGH THE SYSTEM CAUSED THE CONTROLLER TO BURN UP INSIDE THE BUS. CARRIER HAS TOLD US THEY KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE A FIX FOR IT. THIS IS ONE OF AT LEAST 10 WE HAVE HAD HAPPEN. SOMETIME IT BURNS UP THE CONDENSER MOTORS AND THE EVAP MOTORS AS WELL. *TR

NHTSA ODI #10486190

Official recalls

0

No 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

0

No exact-year investigations in this snapshot.