The defect
THE FASTENERS USED TO SECURE THE MOUNTING FOOT OF EITHER FORWARD OR REARWARD HANDRAILS COULD BE INSTALLED IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO ALLOW THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE NUT USED IN NHTSA'S HANDRAIL INSPECTION PROCEDURE WILL CATCH BETWEEN THE FASTENERS.
The risk
A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING COULD BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND IF THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT INSERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy
REPLACE OR REPOSITION THE HANDRAILS TO STOP CLOTHING FROM BECOMING CAUGHT.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas School Bus | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY
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 | 1992 | 0 | 10 |
| Thomas School Bus | 1993 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas School Bus | 1994 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas School Bus | 1995 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas School Bus | 1996 | 2 | 2 |
Other structure recalls in 1996
27 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the structure; THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. filed 100 campaigns in all.
| 96V247000 12 Dec 1996 | RANGE ROVER NA., INC. |
| 96V238000 25 Nov 1996 | FLEETWOOD ENT., INC. |
| 96V205000 26 Oct 1996 | STURDI-CORP. |
| 96V206000 26 Oct 1996 | U.S. BUS CORPORATION |
| 96V169000 10 Sept 1996 | MID BUS INCORPORATED |
| 96V165000 9 Sept 1996 | STARCRAFT RV, INC. |
| 96V164000 5 Sept 1996 | THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. |
| 96V146000 1 Aug 1996 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996