NHTSA recall campaign

08V087000

ManufacturerDAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICAReported2008-02-26Affected243,435 vehicles

What was wrong

Defect

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 243,435 MY 1995-2008 THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1994, AND MARCH 10, 2008. (ADDITIONAL BUSES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT NO. 4) THE EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR HANDLE BEGINS CORRODING AROUND THE SECURING ROLL PIN AND SQUARE DRIVE MECHANISM CAUSING THE PROTECTIVE FINISH TO CHIP AND FLAKE. CONTINUED CORROSION AND PITTING WEAKENS THE HANDLE. HANDLES WEAKENED BY CORROSION MAY BREAK WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR.

Risk

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, A PERSON ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUS MAY BREAK THE DOOR HANDLE TRYING TO OPEN THE EMERGENCY EXIT POTENTIALLY DELAYING EVACUATION AND INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANTS.

Manufacturer remedy

DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HANDLES WITH A MORE ROBUST HANDLE FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY THOMAS BUILT BUSES DEALERSHIPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2008, AND NOTIFICATION FOR THE REVISED POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 336-889-4871.

To check whether your specific VIN is covered and to find a participating dealer, look this campaign up on NHTSA.gov →

Affected vehicles

86 entries

Thomas
- ER2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
- ER Transit1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
- MVP EF1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
- MVP ER1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Thomas Built Buses
- FS-651995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
- HDX2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
- HDX EF1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000
- Minotour2001 2002 2003 2008
- SAF-T-LINER C21995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008