U.S. public vehicle records

Thomas Built Buses FS-65 problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

4 owner complaints analyzed

13 distinct recall campaigns

9,063 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 1994 to 2017 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 4 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Steering is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 4 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Steering behavior	3	75.0%
Braking behavior	2	50.0%
Electrical and battery issues	1	25.0%

Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Steering

Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers

Service Brakes, Air:Drum:Shoes/Linings

Steering:Column

Suspension

Steering: 2; Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers: 1; Service Brakes, Air:Drum:Shoes/Linings: 1; Steering:Column: 1; Suspension: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 0 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.

Complaints over time

Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.

2006

2007

2008

2006: 1; 2007: 2; 2008: 1

Pattern summary

Steering leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.

Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.

Complaint evidence

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10177048 · 2006-12-27 (December 27, 2006)

UPPER STEERING SHAFT PINCH BOLT NOT TIGHTENED/INSTALLED RESULTING IN JOINT SEPARATING FROM MAIN STEERING SHAFT AND TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.NEW PINCH BOLT INSTALLED AND TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SUPPLIED TORQUE VALUES. SUPERFICIAL DAMGE TO SCHOOL BUS BODY REPAIRED WITH REPLACEMENT PARTS.

Owner-reported narrative. 14,625 miles reported. Look up ODI 10177048 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10182069 · 2007-02-09 (February 9, 2007)

FRONT END SHAKE/SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS, SO VIOLENT AT TIMES WILL TAKE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS, ALSO UNIT HAS HARD PULL TO THE LEFT ALONG WITH FRONT END SHIMMY. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182069 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10182072 · 2007-02-09 (February 9, 2007)

FRONT END SHAKE/SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS, SO VIOLENT AT TIMES WILL TAKE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS. *JB

Owner-reported narrative. 3,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10182072 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10226823 · 2008-05-06 (May 6, 2008)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 THOMAS BUILT FS-65/ FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE PANELS AND CABLES LEADING TO THE FUSE PANELS BURNED IN THE VEHICLE. HE REPLACED THE PANELS ON APPROXIMATELY 30 BUSES. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V544000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS), AND STATED THAT THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO THE FUSE PANELS AS WELL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,213 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000.

Owner-reported narrative. 35,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226823 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2001

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2001: 4; 2002: 4; 2003: 5; 2004: 7; 2005: 9; 2006: 11; 2007: 9; 2008: 4; 2009: 2; 2010: 2; 2011: 2; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 1; 2015: 1; 2016: 1; 2017: 1

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Thomas Built Buses FS-65 model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
1994	0	1	Not available
1995	0	2	+1
1996	0	2	0
1997	0	2	0
1998	0	2	0
1999	0	2	0
2000	0	2	0
2001	0	4	+2
2002	0	4	0
2003	0	5	+1
2004	1	7	+2
2005	0	9	+2
2006	1	11	+2
2007	2	9	-2
2008	0	4	-5
2009	0	2	-2
2010	0	2	0
2011	0	2	0
2012	0	1	-1
2013	0	1	0
2014	0	1	0
2015	0	1	0
2016	0	1	0
2017	0	1	0

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

4 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

100.0%Usable mileage4 / 4 records

100.0%Valid incident date4 / 4 records

100.0%Valid filing date4 / 4 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates4 / 4 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017
Steering	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	2100.0% ODI 10182069 · 3,500 mi FRONT END SHAKE/SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS, SO VIOLENT AT TIMES WILL TAKE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS, ALSO UNIT HAS HARD PULL TO THE LEFT ALONG WITH FRONT END SHIMMY. *JB Look up ODI 10182069 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10226823 · 35,000 mi TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 THOMAS BUILT FS-65/ FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE PANELS AND CABLES LEADING TO THE FUSE PANELS BURNED IN THE VEHICLE. HE REPLACED THE PANELS ON APPROXIMATELY 30 BUSES. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V544000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS), AND STATED THAT THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO THE FUSE PANELS AS WELL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,213 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. Look up ODI 10226823 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Service Brakes, Air:Drum:Shoes/Linings	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 10182072 · 3,500 mi FRONT END SHAKE/SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS, SO VIOLENT AT TIMES WILL TAKE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS. *JB Look up ODI 10182072 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Steering:Column	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 10177048 · 14,625 mi UPPER STEERING SHAFT PINCH BOLT NOT TIGHTENED/INSTALLED RESULTING IN JOINT SEPARATING FROM MAIN STEERING SHAFT AND TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.NEW PINCH BOLT INSTALLED AND TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SUPPLIED TORQUE VALUES. SUPERFICIAL DAMGE TO SCHOOL BUS BODY REPAIRED WITH REPLACEMENT PARTS. Look up ODI 10177048 at NHTSA ↗	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Suspension	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	150.0% ODI 10182069 · 3,500 mi FRONT END SHAKE/SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS, SO VIOLENT AT TIMES WILL TAKE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS, ALSO UNIT HAS HARD PULL TO THE LEFT ALONG WITH FRONT END SHIMMY. *JB Look up ODI 10182069 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Steering	Too few reports for a range	3,500 mi	2 (sparse)	ODI 10182069 · 3,500 mi FRONT END SHAKE/SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS, SO VIOLENT AT TIMES WILL TAKE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS, ALSO UNIT HAS HARD PULL TO THE LEFT ALONG WITH FRONT END SHIMMY. JB Look up ODI 10182069 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10182072 · 3,500 mi FRONT END SHAKE/SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS, SO VIOLENT AT TIMES WILL TAKE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS. JB Look up ODI 10182072 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	Too few reports for a range	35,000 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10226823 · 35,000 mi TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 THOMAS BUILT FS-65/ FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FUSE PANELS AND CABLES LEADING TO THE FUSE PANELS BURNED IN THE VEHICLE. HE REPLACED THE PANELS ON APPROXIMATELY 30 BUSES. HE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 07V544000 (ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS), AND STATED THAT THE RECALL SHOULD HAVE BEEN EXTENDED TO THE FUSE PANELS AS WELL. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 68,213 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 35,000. Look up ODI 10226823 at NHTSA ↗
Service Brakes, Air:Drum:Shoes/Linings	Too few reports for a range	3,500 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10182072 · 3,500 mi FRONT END SHAKE/SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS, SO VIOLENT AT TIMES WILL TAKE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS. *JB Look up ODI 10182072 at NHTSA ↗
Steering:Column	Too few reports for a range	14,625 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10177048 · 14,625 mi UPPER STEERING SHAFT PINCH BOLT NOT TIGHTENED/INSTALLED RESULTING IN JOINT SEPARATING FROM MAIN STEERING SHAFT AND TOTAL LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL.NEW PINCH BOLT INSTALLED AND TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SUPPLIED TORQUE VALUES. SUPERFICIAL DAMGE TO SCHOOL BUS BODY REPAIRED WITH REPLACEMENT PARTS. Look up ODI 10177048 at NHTSA ↗
Suspension	Too few reports for a range	3,500 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10182069 · 3,500 mi FRONT END SHAKE/SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS, SO VIOLENT AT TIMES WILL TAKE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS, ALSO UNIT HAS HARD PULL TO THE LEFT ALONG WITH FRONT END SHIMMY. *JB Look up ODI 10182069 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2016: 0 complaints · 2017: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2016	0	0	0
2017	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2016	0	0	0
2017	0	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Steering	Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	Service Brakes, Air:Drum:Shoes/Linings	Steering:Column	Suspension
Steering	—	0	1 ODI 10182072 · 3,500 mi FRONT END SHAKE/SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS, SO VIOLENT AT TIMES WILL TAKE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS. *JB Look up ODI 10182072 at NHTSA ↗	0	1 ODI 10182069 · 3,500 mi FRONT END SHAKE/SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS, SO VIOLENT AT TIMES WILL TAKE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS, ALSO UNIT HAS HARD PULL TO THE LEFT ALONG WITH FRONT END SHIMMY. *JB Look up ODI 10182069 at NHTSA ↗
Electrical System:Wiring:Fuses And Circuit Breakers	0	—	0	0	0
Service Brakes, Air:Drum:Shoes/Linings	1 ODI 10182072 · 3,500 mi FRONT END SHAKE/SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS, SO VIOLENT AT TIMES WILL TAKE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS. *JB Look up ODI 10182072 at NHTSA ↗	0	—	0	0
Steering:Column	0	0	0	—	0
Suspension	1 ODI 10182069 · 3,500 mi FRONT END SHAKE/SHIMMY WHEN BRAKES ARE APPLIED AT ALL SPEEDS, SO VIOLENT AT TIMES WILL TAKE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF HANDS, ALSO UNIT HAS HARD PULL TO THE LEFT ALONG WITH FRONT END SHIMMY. *JB Look up ODI 10182069 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

0 patterns with matching reports.

No narratives match the published patterns.