The defect
DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 216 MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2009 THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 5, 2003 THROUGH JULY 3, 2008. VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN SEAT BACK AND WINDOW COMBINATIONS MAY BE CONFIGURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE EMERGENCY WINDOW RELEASE MECHANISM IS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE LOW-FORCE REGION WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXISTS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION, IMPROPERLY LOCATED EMERGENCY EXIT RELEASE MECHANISMS MAY DELAY EVACUATION AND INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy
DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 17, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS CUSTOMER SUPPORT OFFICE AT 1-336-889-4871.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses Minotour | 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 |
Components: VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
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 Built Buses Minotour | 2004 | 0 | 12 |
| Thomas Built Buses Minotour | 2005 | 1 | 14 |
| Thomas Built Buses Minotour | 2006 | 0 | 22 |
| Thomas Built Buses Minotour | 2007 | 0 | 23 |
| Thomas Built Buses Minotour | 2008 | 0 | 20 |
| Thomas Built Buses Minotour | 2009 | 0 | 18 |
Other visibility recalls in 2009
10 of the 491 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2009 concerned the visibility; DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA filed 134 campaigns in all.
| 09V489000 23 Dec 2009 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 09V470000 4 Dec 2009 | WILDFIRE MOTORS, INC. |
| 09V438000 6 Nov 2009 | CHRYSLER LLC |
| 09V318000 7 Aug 2009 | DAIMLER BUSES NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 09V261000 9 Jul 2009 | JAGUAR LAND ROVER NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 09V215000 11 Jun 2009 | DAIMLER BUSES NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 09V173000 21 May 2009 | VOLVO TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA |
| 09V084000 13 Mar 2009 | CHRYSLER LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2009