THOMAS BUILT BUSES SAF-T-LINER C2 Recalls

Mar 16, 2010 – DTNA HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 10, 2007, THROUGH JANUARY 8, 2010. THE REED SWITCH USED TO DETECT THE POSITION OF THE AIR OPERATED FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR MAY MALFUNCTION CAUSING WARNING LIGHTS AND THE CROSSING ARM TO OPERATE IMPROPERLY DURING STUDENT LOADING AND UNLOADING.

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.

Dec 01, 2009 – DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES AND FCCC B2 CHASSIS MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 1, 2007 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 28, 2009. FASTENERS USED TO CONNECT THE REAR SUSPENSION SPRING TO THE SUSPENSION HANGER BRACKET MAY NOT HAVE BEEN TORQUED TO SPECIFICATION. UNDER TORQUED FASTENERS MAY BECOME LOOSE AND POTENTIALLY FALL OUT.

Dec 01, 2009 – DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES AND FCCC B2 CHASSIS MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2007 THROUGH AUGUST 10, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB CM2150 J1939/1587 ENGINE CONTROL UNIT, BOSCH HYDRAULIC PIN-SLIDE FRONT BRAKES, AND WEBASTO 17K BTU COOLANT HEATER. THE FRONT RIGHT HAND CROSSOVER BRAKE LINE MAY HAVE BEEN SECURED USING SHORTER OFFSET THAN SPECIFIED CLAMPS POTENTIALLY ALLOWING THE BRAKE LINE TO RUB ON THE SURROUNDING COMPONENTS. THIS MAY LEAD TO A BRAKE FLUID LEAK.

Dec 01, 2009 – DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2011 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON FCCC B2 CHASSIS MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 15, 2004 THROUGH NOVEMBER 25, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH KONGSBERG AUTOMOTIVE ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDALS. THE ADJUSTABLE BRAKE PEDAL ARM MAY LOOSEN ALLOWING THE ARM TO ROTATE AROUND ITS SHAFT AND SWING IN FRONT OF THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, REDUCING BRAKING FUNCTION.

Sep 02, 2009 – DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 SCHOOL AND NON-SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 10, 2007 THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH AG2 ENTRANCE DOORS. THE ENTRANCE DOOR GLASS MAY BE INADEQUATELY BONDED TO THE DOOR FRAME AND MAY SEPARATE FROM THE VEHICLE.

Jan 08, 2009 – DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 22,206 THOMAS BUILT MY 2005 THROUGH 2010 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 2004 THROUGH NOVEMBER 24, 2008. THE LOWER END OF THE FRONT ENTRANCE DOOR AFT ASSIST HANDRAIL MAY BE LOCATED TOO CLOSE TO THE STEP.

Dec 17, 2008 – DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA (DTNA) IS RECALLING 24,650 SCHOOL AND NON-SCHOOL BUSES, MOTOR HOME CHASSIS, AND TRUCKS MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 9, 2004 THROUGH AUGUST 18, 2006, EQUIPPED WITH EPA04 CERTIFIED MBE900 ENGINES, MANUFACTURED BY DETROIT DIESEL BETWEEN MARCH 1, 2004, AND JULY 31, 2006. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINES AND TRANSFER TUBES MAY FATIGUE AND FRACTURE.

Nov 19, 2008 – DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 15,686 MY 2005 THROUGH 2009 FCCC AND THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 2005 AND MAY 2008 EQUIPPED WITH A CERTAIN BRAKE LAMP AIR PRESSURE SWITCH. THE CONTACTS IN THE PRESSURE SWITCH FOR THE LOW CURRENT BRAKE LAMP SIGNAL TO THE CHASSIS ECU MAY HAVE BECOME CONTAMINATED BY SILICONE DURING ASSEMBLY CAUSING INSULATING DEPOSITS TO BUILD UP OVER TIME PREVENTING THE BRAKE LAMPS FROM OPERATING.

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.