Model year record

2005 THOMAS SAF-T-Liner C2

4 recall campaigns on file for this model year. No owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V397000

Structure: body: door

Component
Structure: body: door
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER LLC
Vehicles affected
116
Reported to NHTSA
2005-09-13
Owners notified
2006-03-27

Defect description

CERTAIN 2005 THOMAS SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH 30" OR 40" LEFT SIDE EMERGENCY DOOR EXITS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 17, 2004, AND JULY 28, 2005. THE TELESCOPING SLIDE THAT HOLDS THE SIDE EMERGENCY DOOR OPEN IS LOCATED SUCH THAT IT WILL MOVE PAST ITS NORMAL TRAVEL AND THE MECHANISM MAY LATCH ON THE END OF THE SLIDE PREVENTING THE DOOR FROM OPENING.

Safety risk

THE SIDE EMERGENCY DOOR MAY NOT OPEN IF THE LATCH MECHANISM IS IN THE INCORRECT POSITION. OCCUPANTS WOULD HAVE TO USE THE FRONT ENTRY DOOR OR REAR EMERGENCY EXIT IF A SITUATION OCCURRED THAT REQUIRED AN EMERGENCY EXIT.

Manufacturer remedy

THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON MARCH 27, 2006. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT THOMAS AT 1-336-889-4871 OR CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V392000

Structure: body

Component
Structure: body
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER LLC
Vehicles affected
315
Reported to NHTSA
2005-09-08
Owners notified
2006-04-03

Defect description

CERTAIN MY 2004 AND 2005 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 2004, AND MAY 5, 2005. THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE GAP BETWEEN ADJOINING INTERIOR PANELS ABOVE THE REAR RIGHT SIDE WINDOW WHICH DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH.

Safety risk

A NONCOMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 221 MAY, WITHOUT WARNING, RESULT IN AN INCREASE OF A STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE OF THE SCHOOL BUS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY IT CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE JOINT BY ADDING A BRACKET SECURED WITH SCREWS AND ADHESIVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-877-660-4938.

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V387000

Steering: column

Component
Steering: column
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER LLC
Vehicles affected
1,840
Reported to NHTSA
2005-09-06
Owners notified
2005-08-27

Defect description

CERTAIN MY 2004 AND 2005 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 2004 AND AUGUST 26, 2005. THE UPPER STEERING SHAFT PINCH BOLT MAY NOT BE CORRECTLY TIGHTENED, RESULTING IN THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF THE BOLT, ALLOWING JOINT SEPARATION AND LOSS OF STEERING.

Safety risk

SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING WITHOUT WARNING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

ALL THOMAS BUILT AND FREIGHTLINER DEALERS AND DIRECT WARRANTY CUSTOMERS WERE CALLED ON AUGUST 26, 2005, AND NOTIFIED NOT TO DRIVE THESE BUSES UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN INSPECTED. THE REMEDY PROCEDURE CALLS FOR THE INSPECTION OF THE STEERING PINCH BOLTS FOR THE PRESENCE OF TORQUE SEAL. BOLTS WITHOUT TORQUE SEAL WILL BE TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS AND TORQUE SEAL ADDED. FOLLOW UP NOTIFICATION BY MAIL BEGAN AUGUST 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V191000

Exterior lighting

Component
Exterior lighting
Manufacturer
FREIGHTLINER LLC
Vehicles affected
49
Reported to NHTSA
2005-04-29
Owners notified
2005-03-23

Defect description

CERTAIN THOMAS BUILT MY 2004 AND 2005 SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 13, 2004, AND MARCH 1, 2005. DUE TO SOFTWARE COMMUNICATION CONFLICTS, THE TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES SUCH AS THE FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS OR THE STOP SIGNAL ARM MAY NOT WORK OR MAY NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD REQUIREMENTS OF 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT, AND STANDARD 131, SCHOOL BUS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY DEVICES.

Safety risk

IF THE TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES DO NOT WORK, A VEHICLE CRASH OR PERSONAL COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2005. ALL THE OWNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE BUSES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

No complaints recorded for this model year.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.