The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON GM P3 CUTAWAY CHASSIS. THE SCHOOL BUS, WHEN TESTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FMVSS NO. 301, EXCEEDED THE ALLOWABLE FUEL SPILLAGE AS SPECIFIED BY THE STANDARD. THE FUEL TANK WAS PUNCTURED AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT OF THE MOVING BARRIER.
The risk
IF A VEHICLE CRASH WERE TO OCCUR, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy
GENERAL MOTORS IS WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THOMAS BUILT IN PROVIDING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY CAMPAIGN FOR THIS RECALL. DEALERS WILL ADD NEW SHIELDING FOR THE FUEL TANK, NEW FILL PIPE AND VENT HOSES; AND, IF REQUIRED, ADD ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS TO SECURE THE SCHOOL BUS BODY TO THE CHASSIS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by OVSC
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas Minotour | 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
Components: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
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 Minotour | 1992 | 0 | 5 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1993 | 0 | 7 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1994 | 0 | 9 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1995 | 0 | 7 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1996 | 0 | 6 |
Other fuel system, gasoline recalls in 1996
21 of the 297 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1996 concerned the fuel system, gasoline; THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. filed 100 campaigns in all.
| 96V228000 18 Nov 1996 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 96V234000 14 Nov 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V212000 30 Oct 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V204000 22 Oct 1996 | HARLEY-DAVIDSON MOTOR CO. |
| 96V203000 17 Oct 1996 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 96V162003 1 Oct 1996 | U.S. BUS CORPORATION |
| 96V162000 1 Oct 1996 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 96V168000 12 Sept 1996 | CARPENTER INDUSTRIES, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1996