The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH MANUALLY OPERATED OUTWARD OPENING ENTRANCE DOORS. AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD, SUCH AS A LONG DRAWSTRING, SASH, OR BACKPACK/BOOKBAG ACCESSORY, CAN BECOMECAUGHT IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE SERVICE DOOR AND THE DOOR CONTROL ROD ATTACHING BRACKET.
The risk
IF AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD WERE TO CATCH ON THIS AREA, AND THE DRIVER WERE TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THIS CAN RESULT IN IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy
THESE BUSES WERE ORIGINALLY INCLUDED IN RECALL CAMPAIGN 96V-139. HOWEVER, THE REPAIR DID NOT ELIMINATE THE POTENTIAL SNAGGING POINT BETWEEN THE SERVICE DOOR AND THE DOOR CONTROL ROD ATTACHING BRACKET. THEREFORE, OWNERS ARE BEING RENOTIFIED TO INSPECT THE ORIENTATION OF THE DOOR CONTROL. IF THE DOOR CONTROL DOES NOT MATCH THE ORIENTATION DESCRIBED IN THE RENOTIFICATION LETTER, THE OWNER WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO REMOVE THE EXISTING CONTROL AND THE ORIGINAL RECALL REPAIR PART, REOIRIENT THE DOOR CONTROL, AND REINSTALL THE RECALL REPAIR PART.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas Minotour | 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 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 Minotour | 1981 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1982 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1983 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1984 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1985 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1986 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1987 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1988 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1989 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1990 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas Minotour | 1991 | 0 | 3 |
| 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 structure recalls in 1997
21 of the 268 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1997 concerned the structure; THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. filed 100 campaigns in all.
| 97V232000 18 Dec 1997 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 97V235001 18 Dec 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V229000 11 Dec 1997 | EAST MANUFACTURING CORP. |
| 97V180000 20 Oct 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V164000 22 Sept 1997 | TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES |
| 97V137000 19 Aug 1997 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 97V130000 18 Aug 1997 | COLLINS BUS CORPORATION |
| 97V110000 22 Jul 1997 | NISSAN NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1997