Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Power train1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Recalls
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC. (DTNA) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Thomas Built Minotour school buses. The under-body shut-off solenoid connector that connects to the CNG fuel tank may corrode, which could result in an electrical short.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2008-2021 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses. The driver may be able to release the park brake and shift the transmission out of Park and into a drive gear while the wheelchair lift is deployed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 403, "Platform Lift Systems."
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner EFX, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner C2, and Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses equipped with SynTec S3B or S3C seats. The seats may have been manufactured with styrene blocks that may not provide sufficient impact absorption in certain specific areas around the steel seat frame of the back support. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2003-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses built on a Ford chassis equipped with a specific wheelchair lift option. The wheelchair lift can be operated without the parking brake being engaged after they key is turned off.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses with 36" or 39" wide seats. The rear emergency exit door may not open wide enough to meet the unobstructed emergency egress area requirements. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses built on a Ford chassis and equipped with an optional wheelchair lift. The wheelchair lift may be allowed to operate when the vehicle is in neutral or drive, due to missing relay in the interlock wiring harness.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EFX, Saf-T-Liner HDX, and Minotour transit buses, equipped with certain S3B Restraint Wall Mounted Seats. The wall mounting bracket may crack, causing the seat to not remain secured in place in the event of a crash.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Minotour school buses equipped with S3B Restraint Wall Mounted Seats. The wall mounting bracket may crack, causing the seat to not remain secured in place in the event of a crash.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Minotour transit buses, equipped with certain Syntec-brand S3B, Non-Restraint, Wall Mounted Seats. The wall mounting bracket may crack, which may cause the seat to not remain secured in place in the event of a crash.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Minotour school buses, equipped with certain Syntec-brand S3B, Non-Restraint, Wall Mounted Seats. The wall mounting bracket may crack, which may cause the seat to not remain secured in place in the event of a crash.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses built on GM chassis and equipped with wheelchair lifts. The wheelchair lift may be operated while the vehicle is in Neutral or Drive.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour transit buses built on GM chassis and equipped with wheelchair lifts. The wheelchair lift may be operated while the vehicle is in Neutral or Drive.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour DRW school buses. The occupant seats may have been installed without reinforcement brackets being used underneath the seat rail as intended.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Thomas Built Buses told its dealers about the 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10193702 | Thomas Built Buses Product Awareness Bulletin on Data Book Update |
| 10189094 | FL735 TBB Freedman Seat Brackets |
| 10187529 | Important Campaign Information Letter for Dealer Travel for Campaign Performance TBB. |
| 10187440 | Revised Warranty Information Letter for OWL and Warranty Manual Improvement: Sublets and Travel Time/Distance. In the spirit of continuous improvement, DTNA reviewed sublet-related policies and procedures. The goal was to improve language clarity and optimize processes. Revisions are in blue font. |
| 10180350 | Tech Talk discussion about power steering fluid. |
| 10179882 | Service Solution for TBB buzzer sounds when either driver's door or the entrance door is open. This Service Solution is provided to assist Dealers/Customers in resolving the buzzer sounding when either the driver's door or entrance door is open. With certain options, a diode was inadvertently being removed. |
| 10178006 | Important Campaign Information letter announcing Dealer Travel for Campaign Performance. This letter is to announce a reimbursement available to dealers for travel to a customers location to perform a recall or field service campaign. |
| 10177979 | Warranty Information Letter for OWL and Warranty Manual Improvement: Sublets and Travel Time/Distance. In the spirit of continuous improvement, DTNA reviewed sublet-related policies and procedures. The goal was to improve language clarity and optimize processes. |
| 10177838 | Warranty Information Letter informing that to ensure that DTNA policies and service network practices align, the Warranty Department will be revising the Warranty Manual. |
| 10177653 | Warranty Information Letter for Detroit and TBB Parchment Format Update. In the continuing effort to standardize across brands, DTNA is pleased to announce that Detroit Diesel Corporation (Detroit) and Thomas Built Bus (TBB) parchments will be transitioned to the format used for Freightliner, Freightliner Custom Chassis Corporation (FCCC), and Western Star. DTNA's goal is to improve and align documentation but individual coverages have not changed. Updated parchments, also known as coverage sheets, will be published on a rolling basis. |
| 10177648 | Service Bulletin for Guidelines for Cleaning and Disinfecting Cab Surfaces. The following guidelines are for cleaning and disinfecting commonly touched surfaces on the inside and outside of a vehicle. For best results, follow cleaning and disinfecting procedures fully and consistently. Ensure there is adequate ventilation when using chemicals. NOTICE: Wipe down fragile components carefully to avoid damaging the vehicle. |
| 10174376 | Warranty Information Letter for Warranty Training Online. DTNA is pleased to announce the release of new Warranty-related training videos. The videos provide Warranty content in short instructional videos that are available on demand through the AftermarkeTV Video Channel icon on the Aftermarket Resource Center (ARC) home page. |
| 10174061 | Warranty Policy Letter for Chassis Progressive Damage Policy Change. Effective for repair orders opened on or after April 27, 2020, if an Authorized Service Location installed a part which later has a warrantable failure, progressive damage and labor may be covered under the Aftermarket Parts Limited Parts Warranty (Parts Warranty). |
| 10174060 | Warranty Policy Letter for Handling for Authorized Service Location Part Transfers. To promote 24-hour throughput and maximum efficiency, DTNA is adjusting multiple handling policies: Launching a new handling allowance for parts ordered from another Authorized Service Location because the facing Part Distribution Center (PDC) is out of stock Retiring Detroit's Customer First Program |
| 10172025 | Open recall and Field service Campaigns report send out to Dealers, General Managers, Service managers and warranty managers |
| 10171852 | Service Solution for MinoTours. This Service Solution is provided to report a product improvement in preventing water / dust intrusion in the drivers vestibule area. |
| 10171360 | Service Bulletin for Guidelines for Repairing or Replacing an Electrical Harness. Use the guidelines in this bulletin to determine if a damaged electrical harness should be repaired or replaced. |
| 10170298 | Service Solution for Thomas Built Buses Minotours addressing the lack of heat coming from the rear wall heater. Adding a booster pump to improve heater coolant flow is now available. |
| 10164617 | Communication to assist the field with service vibration issues on DTNA vehicles |
| 10164616 | PowerNet Assessment Tool Repair Procedure |
| 10164481 | Service Systems Development provided document to service locations on price list reflects current charges to engine horsepower ratings for HDEP and MDEG engine platforms. |
| 10164438 | Warranty Policy Letter to communicate Detroit Return Changes |
| 10164436 | Warranty Information Letter to announce addition of Thomas Built Bus as a brand with an Authorized Demonstrator Program |
| 10164368 | Warranty Information Letter updated to communicate warranty system updates. |
| 10163620 | DTNA Special Tools Group has approved the use of Haweka Axis4000 aftermarket alignment system for use on DTNA products at DTNA service locations. The Axis4000 system uses the reference points required by DTNA for precise, accurate, and repeatable measurements. Axis4000 is a sophisticated, user-friendly system that utilizes computer based camera-radio technology and references the center line of the frame for measuring and providing alignment results to DTNA specifications. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
6L90 Transmission Failure
Daimler Trucks North America Recalls
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation