The defect
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 243,435 MY 1995-2008 THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1994, AND MARCH 10, 2008. (ADDITIONAL BUSES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT NO. 4) THE EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR HANDLE BEGINS CORRODING AROUND THE SECURING ROLL PIN AND SQUARE DRIVE MECHANISM CAUSING THE PROTECTIVE FINISH TO CHIP AND FLAKE. CONTINUED CORROSION AND PITTING WEAKENS THE HANDLE. HANDLES WEAKENED BY CORROSION MAY BREAK WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, A PERSON ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUS MAY BREAK THE DOOR HANDLE TRYING TO OPEN THE EMERGENCY EXIT POTENTIALLY DELAYING EVACUATION AND INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANTS.
The remedy
DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HANDLES WITH A MORE ROBUST HANDLE FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY THOMAS BUILT BUSES DEALERSHIPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2008, AND NOTIFICATION FOR THE REVISED POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT 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 ER Transit | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Thomas MVP EF | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Thomas Built Buses FS-65 | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Thomas Built Buses HDX | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
| Thomas Built Buses HDX EF | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Thomas Built Buses Minotour | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2008 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2 | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
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 ER Transit | 1995 | 0 | 3 |
| 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 | 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 | 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 | 1996 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 1997 | 0 | 6 |
| Thomas MVP ER | 1998 | 0 | 7 |
Other structure recalls in 2008
25 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the structure; DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA filed 134 campaigns in all.
| 08V686000 19 Dec 2008 | TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES AMERICA LTD |
| 08V664000 16 Dec 2008 | FOREST RIVER, INC. |
| 08V659000 15 Dec 2008 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR COMPANY |
| 08V609000 24 Nov 2008 | AMERICAN LAFRANCE LLC |
| 08V604000 24 Nov 2008 | REINKE MANUFACTURING COMPANY, INC. |
| 08V451000 5 Sept 2008 | SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, LLC |
| 08V448000 3 Sept 2008 | PREVOST CARS, INC. |
| 08V447000 3 Sept 2008 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008