The defect
THE HOLE IN THE BOLT PORTION OF THE VANDALOCK WAS DRILLED IN AN INCORRECT LOCATION, ALLOWING THE PIN TO BE INSERTED WITH THE BOLT IN THE LOCKED POSITION WHILE BYPASSING THE STARTER INTERLOCK. THIS CAN RESULT IN THE ENGINE STARTING SYSTEM OPERATING WHILE THE EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR IS LOCKED. THIS DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 217, "BUS WINDOW RELEASE AND RETENTION."
The risk
CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: VEHICLES OPERATED WHILE EMERGENCY EXITS ARE LOCKED RESULT IN INCREASED RISK OF PASSENGER ENTRAPMENT WHEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL RIVET A METAL SHIELD TO THE VANDALOCK COVER TO PREVENT PIN INSERTION IN THE EVENT THAT THE PIN HOLE HAS BEEN INCORRECTLY LOCATED.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas School Bus | 1994 |
Components: LATCHES/LOCKS/LINKAGES:DOORS:LATCH
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 School Bus | 1994 | 0 | 4 |
Other latches/locks/linkages recalls in 1994
5 of the 244 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1994 concerned the latches/locks/linkages; THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. filed 100 campaigns in all.
| 94V243000 14 Dec 1994 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 94V219000 8 Nov 1994 | BAYERISCHE MOTOREN WERKE |
| 94V159000 31 Aug 1994 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 94V039000 23 Feb 1994 | TOYOTA MOTOR CO., LTD. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1994