The defect
CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES WITH WELDON TECHNOLOGIES' 5050-1400 SURFACE MOUNT MARKER LIGHTS HAVE AN OPTION TO REPLACE EACH OF THE TWELVE CLEARANCE/MARKER/IDENTIFICATION LIGHTS WITH FOUR-CANDLEPOWER LIGHTS, TWICE THE CANDLEPOWER NORMALLY USED. THE HIGHER CURRENT DEMAND CREATED BY THESE LIGHTS CAN CAUSE EXCESSIVE HEAT THROUGH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH CONNECTION IF A RELAY IS NOT INSTALLED BETWEEN THE COMBINATION TAIL/MARKER LIGHT CIRCUIT AND THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH.
The risk
THIS CAN RESULT IN DEFORMATION OF THE PLASTIC CONNECTORS THAT CONNECT THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH TO ITS WIRING HARNESS.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A RELAY TO REDUCE THE CURRENT DRAW THROUGH THE HEADLIGHT SWITCH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 8, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-336-881-7219.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas ER Transit | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Thomas MVP | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
Components: EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas ER Transit | 1994 | 0 | 1 |
| Thomas ER Transit | 1995 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas ER Transit | 1996 | 0 | 5 |
| Thomas ER Transit | 1997 | 0 | 7 |
| Thomas ER Transit | 1998 | 0 | 6 |
| Thomas ER Transit | 1999 | 0 | 6 |
| Thomas ER Transit | 2000 | 0 | 7 |
| Thomas MVP | 1994 | 0 | 8 |
| Thomas MVP | 1995 | 0 | 10 |
| Thomas MVP | 1996 | 0 | 12 |
| Thomas MVP | 1997 | 0 | 9 |
| Thomas MVP | 1998 | 0 | 7 |
| Thomas MVP | 1999 | 0 | 5 |
| Thomas MVP | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
Other exterior lighting recalls in 2000
14 of the 541 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2000 concerned the exterior lighting; FREIGHTLINER LLC filed 99 campaigns in all.
| 00V405000 6 Dec 2000 | VOLVO CARS OF NA, INC. |
| 00V397000 29 Nov 2000 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 00V291000 2 Oct 2000 | COACHMEN INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 00V254001 21 Sept 2000 | NEWMAR CORPORATION |
| 00V254000 6 Sept 2000 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 00V220000 11 Aug 2000 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 00V168000 19 Jun 2000 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 00V145000 18 May 2000 | GILLIG CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2000