The defect
CERTAIN MY 1994 THROUGH 2002 THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR, FS-65, MVP-EF, ER, AND HDX-EF SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 1994, AND APRIL 15, 2002. THE SEAT BELT MAY CHAFE ON THE EDGE OF A METAL BRACKET AND WEAR PREMATURELY.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy
THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE ANY CHAFED SEAT BELTS AND REPLACE OR MODIFY THE RETAINER STRIP TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER CHAFING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 336-889-4871 OR CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 800-547-0712.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas Minotour | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
| Thomas Built Buses HDX EF | 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 |
Components: SEAT BELTS
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 MVP EF | 1994 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 1995 | 0 | 4 |
| 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 EF | 2001 | 0 | 10 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 2002 | 0 | 9 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1994 | 0 | 9 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1995 | 0 | 7 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1996 | 0 | 6 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1998 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Minotour | 2000 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas Minotour | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Minotour | 2002 | 0 | 5 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 1994 | 0 | 1 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 1995 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 1998 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 1999 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 2000 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 2001 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 2002 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas Built Buses HDX EF | 1994 | 0 | 1 |
| Thomas Built Buses HDX EF | 1995 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Buses HDX EF | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2007
10 of the 587 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2007 concerned the seat belts; FREIGHTLINER LLC filed 99 campaigns in all.
| 07V465000 3 Oct 2007 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 07V454000 26 Sept 2007 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 07V449000 25 Sept 2007 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 07V315000 24 Jul 2007 | AMERICAN SUZUKI MOTOR CORP. |
| 07V328000 20 Jul 2007 | GM DAEWOO AUTO & TECHNOLOGY COMPANY |
| 07V231000 8 Jun 2007 | KALMAR INDUSTRIES CORP |
| 07V150000 3 Apr 2007 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 07V094000 12 Mar 2007 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2007