The defect
CERTAIN 2001-2004 MY THOMAS BUILT MVP-EF, ER TRANSIT, MVP-ER, HD, AND HDX SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 24, 2000, AND MARCH 4, 2004. THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY CAN FRACTURE AND FAIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN COMPLETE SEPARATION.
The risk
TIE ROD FAILURE CAN POSSIBLY RESULT IN COMPLETE WHEEL SEPARATION AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
The remedy
THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 6, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT (WE DO NOT YET HAVE A TELEPHONE NUMBER).
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas HD | 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Thomas HDX | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
Components: STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
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 HD | 2001 | 0 | 1 |
| Thomas HD | 2002 | 0 | 1 |
| Thomas HD | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Thomas HDX | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas HDX | 2002 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas HDX | 2003 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas HDX | 2004 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 2001 | 0 | 10 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 2002 | 0 | 9 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 2003 | 0 | 6 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 2004 | 1 | 6 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2001 | 1 | 12 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2002 | 0 | 9 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2003 | 0 | 8 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2004 | 0 | 6 |
Other steering recalls in 2005
47 of the 562 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2005 concerned the steering; FREIGHTLINER LLC filed 99 campaigns in all.
| 05V574000 30 Dec 2005 | MASERATI NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 05V540000 30 Nov 2005 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 05V543000 29 Nov 2005 | PACCAR INCORPORATED |
| 05V541000 22 Nov 2005 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
| 05V507000 3 Nov 2005 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 05V496000 1 Nov 2005 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 05V455000 5 Oct 2005 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 05V408000 13 Sept 2005 | FREIGHTLINER LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2005