The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH NON-ELECTRONIC CUMMINS B5.9L ENGINES. THE SLIDING ACTION OF THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE LEVER OVER THE HAND THROTTLE CABLE CAN CAUSE THE HAND THROTTLE WIRE TO WEAR A NOTCH IN THE ACCELERATOR LINKAGE RESULTING IN BINDING OF THE LINKAGE. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 124, "ACCELERATOR CONTROL SYSTEMS."
The risk
SUCH BINDING CAN PREVENT THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL FROM RETURNING TO IDLE QUICKLY OR FROM RETURNING TO IDLE POSITION AT ALL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE EXISTING ACCELERATOR LINKAGE LEVER AND READJUST THE HAND THROTTLE CABLE, OR REPLACE THE EXISTING HAND THROTTLE ATTACHMENT CLIP AND READJUST THE HAND THROTTLE CABLE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas MVP | 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 |
Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:CABLES
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 MVP | 1995 | 0 | 10 |
| Thomas MVP | 1996 | 0 | 12 |
| Thomas MVP | 1997 | 0 | 9 |
| Thomas MVP | 1998 | 0 | 7 |
Other vehicle speed control recalls in 1998
13 of the 367 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1998 concerned the vehicle speed control; THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. filed 100 campaigns in all.
| 98V304000 2 Dec 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V204000 1 Sept 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V192000 24 Aug 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V153000 2 Jul 1998 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 98V045003 14 May 1998 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN |
| 98V070000 1 Apr 1998 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 98V045001 3 Mar 1998 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA |
| 98V045002 3 Mar 1998 | CHRYSLER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1998