The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH NATIONAL SEATING'S SERIES 93B-SB DRIVER SEAT. A BRACKET ATTACHING THE GAS SPRING SHOCK TO THE HEIGHT ADJUSTER OF THE SEAT CAN DEFORM AND BREAK. THIS BRACKET IS LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE HEIGHT ADJUSTER.
The risk
IF THE BRACKET IS NOT REPLACED AFTER DEFORMING, AND IS ALLOWED TO BREAK, ITS BREAKING WILL RESULT IN A SUDDEN DROP OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BASE AND ADD REINFORCEMENT TO THE SEAT ASSEMBLY
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas CL960 | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Thomas Conventional | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Thomas ER Transit | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Thomas TL960 | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Thomas Vista | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
Components: SEATS
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 CL960 | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas CL960 | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas CL960 | 1998 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas CL960 | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Thomas CL960 | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
| Thomas Conventional | 1996 | 0 | 11 |
| Thomas Conventional | 1997 | 0 | 8 |
| Thomas Conventional | 1998 | 0 | 7 |
| Thomas Conventional | 1999 | 0 | 5 |
| Thomas Conventional | 2000 | 0 | 7 |
| 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 EF | 1996 | 1 | 4 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 1997 | 2 | 6 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 1998 | 3 | 8 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 1999 | 0 | 10 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 2000 | 0 | 11 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 1996 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 1997 | 0 | 6 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 1998 | 0 | 7 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 1999 | 0 | 9 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2000 | 0 | 12 |
| Thomas TL960 | 1996 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas TL960 | 1997 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas TL960 | 1998 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas TL960 | 1999 | 0 | 1 |
| Thomas TL960 | 2000 | 0 | 1 |
Other seats recalls in 2000
7 of the 541 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2000 concerned the seats; THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. filed 100 campaigns in all.
| 00V418000 14 Dec 2000 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 00V420000 14 Dec 2000 | AMERICAN TRANSPORTATION CORP. |
| 00V380000 17 Nov 2000 | THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. |
| 00V289000 2 Oct 2000 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 00V207000 3 Aug 2000 | CARPENTER INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 00V120000 3 Apr 2000 | UNION CITY BODY COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2000