THOMAS BUILT BUSES MINOTOUR Recalls

Mar 30, 2011 – CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2000 AND 2002 THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR NONSCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON FORD CHASSIS FROM APRIL 17, 2000, THROUGH NOVEMBER 28, 2001. THESE BUSES WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN INCORRECT TIRE LOAD CERTIFICATION LABEL. THE CERTIFICATION LABELS LIST "D" LOAD RANGE TIRES WITH A RECOMMENDED COLD TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE GREATER THAN 65 PSI. THE BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH LOAD RANGE "E" TIRES THAT REQUIRE A HIGHER MINIMUM TIRE PRESSURE. ACCORDINGLY, THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS."

Sep 02, 2010 – DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON FORD CHASSIS MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 6, 2004 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2, 2010. ON AFFECTED VEHICLES, MAIN BODY POWER CABLES WERE ROUTED IN THE AREA OF AN UNPROTECTED EDGE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE INNER-FENDER. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS A POWER CABLE MAY CONTACT THE SHARP EDGE. IF UNDETECTED, CONTINUED CONTACT COULD WEAR THROUGH THE POWER CABLE'S INSULATION POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A SHORT CIRCUIT.

Sep 02, 2010 – DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 MINOTOUR NON SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON FORD CHASSIS MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 6, 2004 THROUGH FEBRUARY 2, 2010. ON AFFECTED VEHICLES, MAIN BODY POWER CABLES WERE ROUTED IN THE AREA OF AN UNPROTECTED EDGE ON THE PASSENGER'S SIDE INNER-FENDER. UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS A POWER CABLE MAY CONTACT THE SHARP EDGE. IF UNDETECTED, CONTINUED CONTACT COULD WEAR THROUGH THE POWER CABLE'S INSULATION POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A SHORT CIRCUIT.

Feb 23, 2010 – DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011 SAF-T-LINER C2, HDX, MVP-EF, AND MINOTOUR SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 21, 2009 THROUGH JANUARY 19, 2010. THE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 222, "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION." SEAT CUSHION HINGE TOLERANCE MAY ALLOW THE CUSHION TO SLIP LATERALLY CAUSING THE LATCH STRIKER TO BECOME DISENGAGED FROM THE SEAT FRAME. ONCE THE SEAT CUSHION BECOMES UNLATCHED IT CAN BE LIFTED WITH LESS FORCE THAN REQUIRED BY THE STANDARD.

Jun 12, 2009 – DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 216 MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2009 THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 5, 2003 THROUGH JULY 3, 2008. VEHICLES WITH CERTAIN SEAT BACK AND WINDOW COMBINATIONS MAY BE CONFIGURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT THE EMERGENCY WINDOW RELEASE MECHANISM IS LOCATED OUTSIDE OF THE LOW-FORCE REGION WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXISTS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."

Dec 09, 2008 – DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA (DTNA) IS RECALLING 2,590 MY 2005 THROUGH 2009 THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR SCHOOL BUSES WITH GVWR OF 10,000 POUNDS OR LESS, MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 1, 2004 AND NOVEMBER 26, 2008. THE TIRE PLACARD CONTAINS INCORRECT INFORMATION WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS.

Aug 25, 2008 – DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 1,419 MY 2006 THROUGH 2008 THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 7, 2005 AND MAY 27, 2008, EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.

Aug 25, 2008 – DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 2,250 MY 2006 AND 2007 THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR, FS65, C2, HDX, AND MVP EF SCHOOL BUSES AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 9, 2005 AND FEBRUARY 23, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH RICON S OR K SERIES WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES."

Feb 26, 2008 – 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.

Feb 26, 2008 – DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 760 MY 2003-2007 THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 6, 2005 AND JULY 19, 2006, EQUIPPED WITH BRAUN WHEELCHAIR LIFTS, MODELS NL, NCL, OR NVL. THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEMS OF THE SUBJECT MODEL WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 403, PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.