VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH IN-LINE SIX ENGINE,"S" TYPE FRAME RAILS AND SIDE MOUNTED BATTERY BOX. THE BATTERY CABLE ROUTING ALLOWS THE POSITIVE CABLE TO CHAFE RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE CABLE.
Safety risk
IF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURS, IT CAN CAUSE LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE AND A POSSIBLE VEHICLE FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
THOMAS BUILT WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH REPAIR PARTS AND DETAILED REPAIR PROCEDURES TO SECURE THE CABLE TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES, THOMAS BUILT WILL PERFORM THE REPAIR FOR THEM.
CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND THE SUSPENSION BEAM CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE CHAMBER CLAMP BAND.
Safety risk
IF THE DAMAGE TO THE CLAMP BAND RESULTED IN BAND BREAKAGE, THE CHAMBER COULD COME APART RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE SERVICE BRAKES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKES WOULD AUTOMATICALLY APPLY.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE CHAMBER FOR SIGNS OF CONTACT. IF CONTACT IS INDICATED, THE BRAKE CAM SHAFT AND CHAMBER SUPPORT BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED, ELIMINATING THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND THE SUSPENSION BEAM.
AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD, SUCH AS A LONG DRAWSTRING, SASH, OR BACKPACK/BOOKBAG ACCESSORY, CAN BECOME CAUGHT ON THE FATENERS THAT SECURE THE HANDRAIL SUPPORT TO THE HANDRAIL.
Safety 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 SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Manufacturer remedy
THE EXISTING 1" BOLTS THAT SECURE THE HANDRAIL SUPPORT WILL BE REPLACED WITH 1/2" BOLTS.
AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD, SUCH AS A LONG DRAWSTRING, SASH, OR BACKPACK/BOOKBAG ACCESSORY, CAN BECOME CAUGHT IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE SERVICE DOOR AND THE DOOR CONTROL ROD ATTACHING BRACKET.
Safety 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 SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
Manufacturer remedy
A MOLDED COVER WILL BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE MANUALLY OPERATED OUTWARD OPENING ENTRANCE DOOR AND THE DOOR CONTROL ROD ATTACHING BRACKET WHICH WILL ELIMINATE THE OPENING THAT COULD ALLOW AN ITEM OF A CHILD'S CLOTHING TO BECOME SNAGGED.
CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND THE SUSPENSION BEAM CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE CHAMBER CLAMP BAND.
Safety risk
IF THE DAMAGE TO THE CLAMP BAND RESULTED IN BAND BREAKAGE, THE CHAMBER COULD COME APART RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE SERVICE BRAKES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKES WOULD AUTOMATICALLY APPLY.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE CHAMBER FOR SIGN OF CONTACT. IF CONTACT IS INDICATED, THE BRAKE CAM SHAFT AND CHAMBER SUPPORT BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED, ELIMINATING THE POSSIBLITY OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND THE SUSPENSION BEAM.
Fuel system, other: storage: tank assembly: pressure relief devices
Manufacturer
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Vehicles affected
75
Reported to NHTSA
1995-09-25
Owners notified
1996-02-02
Defect description
SOME TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE TRIGGERS WERE NOT X-RAYED. THESE TRIGGERS COULD CONTAIN INTERNAL VOIDS THAT WOULD MAKE THE TRIGGERS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ADVANCED CREEP CAUSING FALSE ACTIVATION AND VENTING OF THE CNG.
Safety risk
VENTING OF THE CNG COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.
Manufacturer remedy
THOMAS BUILT WILL REPLACE THE TYPE III PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE WITH THE NEWER DESIGN "GENERATION 2.5" PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE.
THE METAL HOUSING OF THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS ON AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR/EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR SAFETY BELTS CAN BECOME DEFORMED PREVENTING EXTENSION AND/OR RETRACTION OF THE BELT.
Safety risk
PASSENGERS WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXTEND OR RETRACT THEIR SAFETY BELTS AND WOULD BE AT A RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HARDENED WASHER WHICH WILL DECREASE THE POSSIBILITY OF DEFORMATION OF THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR. DAMAGED RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED.
A SUDDEN HYDRAULIC PRESSURE LOSS DURING HARD TURNS RESULTS IN A MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE PRESSURE LOSS OCCURS WHEN THE HYDRAULICALLY DRIVEN ENGINE COOLING FAN TURNS OFF IN THE TURN.
Safety risk
THE DRIVER REACTS TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST BY OVERSTEERING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.
Manufacturer remedy
THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL VALVES WILL BE REPLACED WITH VALVES OF A NEW DESIGN. UNTIL SUCH TIME AS PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO DISCONNECT THE FAN CUTOFF SWITCH SO THAT HYDRAULICALLY DRIVEN FANS WILL RUN FULL TIME, ELIMINATING THE PRESSURE SPIKE.
THE CURRENT PRODUCTION STATIONARY WINDOW ASSEMBLIES ALLOW THE GLASS TO DISENGAGE FROM THE RUBBER AND/OR FRAME.
Safety risk
THE WINDOWS DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 217, "BUS WINDOWRETENTION AND RELEASE."
Manufacturer remedy
INSTALL TWO RETAINING CLIPS AT EACH NON-COMPLYING WINDOW.
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.