The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES BUILT WITH COMPOSITE FRONT ROOF CAPS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH." THE ROOF CAP DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS DUE TO THE OMISSION OF THE ADHESIVE THAT JOINS THE ROOF TO THE BUS BODY.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE MAY CRUSH, NOT PROPERLY PROTECTING THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL RE-BOND THE ROOF CAP TO THE ROOF SHEET METAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 14, 2001. 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 1-336-889-4871.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas SAF-T-Liner HD | 2000, 2001 |
| Thomas Transit Liner ER | 2000, 2001 |
| Thomas Transit Liner HD | 2000, 2001 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner ER | 2000, 2001 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY
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 SAF-T-Liner HD | 2000 | 1 | 2 |
| Thomas SAF-T-Liner HD | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas Transit Liner ER | 2000 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas Transit Liner ER | 2001 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas Transit Liner HD | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Transit Liner HD | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner ER | 2000 | 1 | 3 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner ER | 2001 | 0 | 4 |
Other structure recalls in 2001
22 of the 461 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2001 concerned the structure; FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION filed 151 campaigns in all.
| 01V381000 12 Dec 2001 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 01V378000 12 Dec 2001 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 01V342000 6 Nov 2001 | OSHKOSH TRUCK CORPORATION |
| 01V321001 9 Oct 2001 | NOVA BUS INCORPORATED |
| 01V281000 6 Sept 2001 | U.S. BUS CORPORATION |
| 01V282000 30 Aug 2001 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 01V273000 2 Aug 2001 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 01V251000 1 Aug 2001 | JAYCO, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2001