Model year record

1989 THOMAS School BUS

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

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 96V080000

Structure: body

Component
Structure: body
Manufacturer
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Vehicles affected
13,545
Reported to NHTSA
1996-05-06
Owners notified
1996-09-16

Defect description

THE DOOR HINGES WERE NOT SHIELDED AND CAN SNAG EXITING CHILDREN'S CLOTHING OR ACCESSORIES.

Safety risk

WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSTALL HINGE PADS TO PREVENT THE SNAGGING OF PASSENGER'S CLOTHING.

Recall campaignNHTSA 96V054000

Structure: body

Component
Structure: body
Manufacturer
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Vehicles affected
4,500
Reported to NHTSA
1996-03-26
Owners notified
1996-06-05

Defect description

PASSENGER'S CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

Safety risk

WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION,THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT INSERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE OR REPOSITION THE HANDRAILS TO STOP CLOTHING FROM BEING CAUGHT.

Recall campaignNHTSA 93V032001

Structure: body

Component
Structure: body
Manufacturer
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Vehicles affected
87,000
Reported to NHTSA
1993-03-29
Owners notified
1993-11-15

Defect description

PASSENGERS CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

Safety risk

WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THEHANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THEINDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUSINJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

REPLACE OR REPOSITION THE HANDRAILS TO STOP CLOTHING FROM BECOMING CAUGHT.

Recall campaignNHTSA 92V013000

Visibility: glass, side/rear

Component
Visibility: glass, side/rear
Manufacturer
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Vehicles affected
7,500
Reported to NHTSA
1992-01-03
Owners notified
1992-10-23

Defect description

THE CENTER ACTUATOR THAT RELEASES TWO CATCHES VIA TWO PULL RODS CAN BECOME NON-FUNCTIONAL FROM POOR OR IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, LACK OF LUBRICATION, CORROSION, OR A COMBINATION ALL THREE CAUSES.

Safety risk

WHEN THE CENTER ACTUATOR IS NON-FUNCTIONAL, THE WINDOWIS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN, AND WOULD NOT FUNCTION AS AN EMERGENCY EXIT IN CASEOF A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

REMOVE THE OLD CENTER ACTUATOR AND INSTALL AN IMPROVED ACTUATOR.

Recall campaignNHTSA 91V006000

Visibility: glass, side/rear

Component
Visibility: glass, side/rear
Manufacturer
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Vehicles affected
2,986
Reported to NHTSA
1991-10-03
Owners notified
1991-04-19

Defect description

RELEASE HANDLE FOR REAR PUSH OUT WINDOW IS NOT LOCATED IN AREA REQUIRED BY S5.2.3.1(B) OF FMVSS 217.

Safety risk

BUSES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH STANDARDS; IN AN EMERGENCY,EXIT FROM THE PUSH-OUT WINDOW COULD BE HAMPERED.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL NEW INTERIOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY TO MEET SPECIFICATIONS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 91V169000

Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump

Component
Fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump
Manufacturer
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Vehicles affected
407
Reported to NHTSA
1991-10-01
Owners notified
1991-09-26

Defect description

THE FUEL SHUT-OFF SOLENOID IN THE CUMMINS 6C ENGINE MAY BE FAULTY, CAUSING SPONTANEOUS INTERRUPTION OF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER TO DRIVING WHEELS, POWER STEERING, AND OTHER POWER ASSISTED OPERATING SYSTEMS.

Safety risk

LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SECONDARY LOSS OF POWER ASSISTEDSYSTEMS REDUCES STEERING CONTROL, BRAKING ABILITY, VISUAL SYSTEMS AND OTHERPOWER ASSISTED OPERATING SYSTEMS, RESULTING IN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLEACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

WHERE NECESSARY, REPLACE THE SOLENOID SPRING, ADJUST SOLENOID, REPLACE WIRES, AND VERIFY MAXIMUM POWER REQUIREMENTS TO THE SOLENOID.

Recall campaignNHTSA 90V196000

Seats

Component
Seats
Manufacturer
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Vehicles affected
1,083
Reported to NHTSA
1990-11-23
Owners notified
1991-06-19

Defect description

THE SEAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH ENERGY ABSORPTION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 222.

Safety risk

THE REAR FACING SEATS HAD ONLY ONE THIRD OF THE REQUIREDENERGY ABSORPTION; A PASSENGER USING THIS SEAT COULD BE INJURED IN A SUDDEN STOPOR AN ACCIDENT.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL NEW FOLDUP SEATS WITH APPROPRIATE FASTENERS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 90V025000

Seat belts: front: anchorage

Component
Seat belts: front: anchorage
Manufacturer
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Vehicles affected
48
Reported to NHTSA
1990-02-09
Owners notified
1990-10-24

Defect description

UPPER ANCHORAGE OF TYPE 2 SAFETY BELT INSTALLED AT THE DRIVER'S SEATING POSITION IS NOT WITHIN THE SPECIFIED RANGE AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.

Safety risk

BELTS MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE AND OBSTRUCT VISION TO THE LEFT; BUSES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH STANDARD.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL REINFORCING CHANNEL ASSURING THAT BELTS ARE WITHIN SPECIFIED RANGE.

Recall campaignNHTSA 89V192000

Seats: front assembly: recliner

Component
Seats: front assembly: recliner
Manufacturer
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Vehicles affected
561
Reported to NHTSA
1989-11-06
Owners notified
1990-05-04

Defect description

THE ADJUSTABLE SEAT BACK STRUCTURE AND TILT MECHANISM MAY NOT WITHSTAND REARWARD FORCE REQUIRED BY FMVSS 207.

Safety risk

BUSES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 207; SEATBACKCOULD FAIL IN AN ACCIDENT INCREASING POTENTIAL FOR INJURY TO OCCUPANT.

Manufacturer remedy

INSTALL NEW SEAT BACK STRUCTURE AND TILT MECHANISM ASSEMBLY THAT COMPLIES WITH STANDARD.

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.