The defect
CERTAIN 2001 THROUGH 2008 THOMAS BUILT FS-56, ER, MVP ER, HDX, AND MVP EF SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 23, 2000, THROUGH JANUARY 24, 2006, EQUIPPED WITH TYCO PC BOARD AND TYPE II AUTO RESET CIRCUIT BREAKERS. TYPE II AUTO RESET CIRCUIT BREAKER TEMPERATURES MAY EXCEED THE RATING OF THE TYCO PC BOARD CAUSING THE BOARDS TO MELT POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
The risk
A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
The remedy
THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES BY REPLACING THE TYPE II AUTO RESET CIRCUIT BREAKERS WITH MANUAL CIRCUIT BREAKERS, AND THE JUMPER CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT CUSTOMER SUPPORT OFFICE AT 336-889-4871.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas ER | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Thomas Built Buses HDX | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS
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 | 2001 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas ER | 2002 | 0 | 5 |
| Thomas ER | 2003 | 1 | 6 |
| Thomas ER | 2004 | 0 | 6 |
| Thomas ER | 2005 | 0 | 6 |
| Thomas ER | 2006 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas ER | 2007 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas ER | 2008 | 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 EF | 2005 | 0 | 5 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 2006 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 2007 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 2008 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2001 | 1 | 12 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2002 | 0 | 9 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2003 | 0 | 8 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2004 | 0 | 6 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2005 | 0 | 5 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2006 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2007 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 2008 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 2001 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 2002 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 2003 | 0 | 5 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 2004 | 1 | 7 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 2005 | 0 | 9 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 2006 | 1 | 11 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2007
35 of the 587 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2007 concerned the electrical system; FREIGHTLINER LLC filed 99 campaigns in all.
| 07V599000 28 Dec 2007 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 07V569000 15 Dec 2007 | WHEELED COACH INDUSTRIES |
| 07V573000 14 Dec 2007 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA |
| 07V574000 14 Dec 2007 | GIRARDIN MINIBUS INC. |
| 07V557000 11 Dec 2007 | PORSCHE CARS NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 07V552000 5 Dec 2007 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 07V538000 27 Nov 2007 | MONACO COACH CORPORATION |
| 07V539000 21 Nov 2007 | COACHMEN RV COMPANY, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2007