Thomas Built Buses TRANSIT LINER ER recalls by model year
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
1 owner complaints analyzed
3 distinct recall campaigns
104,296 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1999 to 2002 model years. Data updated: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 1999 | 2 |
| 2002 | 1 |
1999: 2; 2002: 1
Year-by-year records
Recall history
3 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
01V044002 · Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly
Reported: 2001-02-21 (February 21, 2001) · Model years: 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRUCKS, SCHOOL BUS AND MOTOR HOME CHASSIS, AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES MANUFACTURED BY TRW. THE SUSPECT TIE RODS CONTAIN 24-DL MODEL BALL SOCKETS. CERTAIN OF THE TIE ROD BALL-SOCKET BEARINGS HAVE A BELOW-SPECIFICATION CASE DEPTH AND/OR HARDNESS, WHICH CAN LEAD TO PREMATURE WEAR OF THE SOCKET.
Consequence: IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE BALL SOCKETS AND/OR DRAG LINKS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 22, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712 OR TRW CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-280-3287.
NHTSA campaign record ↗01V111004 · Service Brakes, Air:Supply:Compressor
Reported: 2001-07-16 (July 16, 2001) · Model years: 1999
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT AND SHUTTLE BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISC AND ISL DIESEL ENGINES. THE INTERNAL FRONT BUSHING CAN SPIN, CAUSING DAMAGE TO THE AIR COMPRESSOR, AND POSSIBLY TO THE SPINDLE DRIVE AT THE REAR FACE OF THE AIR COMPRESSOR WHICH IS USED TO PROVIDE POWER TO THE VEHICLE HYDRAULIC PUMP. FAILURE OF THE AIR COMPRESSOR'S SPINDLE DRIVE COULD LEAD TO LOSS OF POWER ASSIST IF THE HYDRAULIC PUMP CEASES TO OPERATE.
Consequence: WITHOUT POWER ASSIST, THE VEHICLE BECOMES VERY DIFFICULT TO TURN AND COULD POSSIBLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.
Remedy: CUMMINS IS HANDLING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE AIR COMPRESSOR. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT COMMINS AT 1-800-343-7357 OR THOMAS BUILT AT 1-336-841-5924.
NHTSA campaign record ↗02V320000 · Suspension:Rear:Springs:Air Suspension System
Reported: 2002-12-02 (December 2, 2002) · Model years: 2002
ON CERTAIN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH REYCO REAR AXLE AIR SUSPENSIONS, DEFLATED SUSPENSION AIR BAGS COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE DRIVELINE ANGLES CAUSING U-JOINT DAMAGE.
Consequence: THE DRIVE SHAFT COULD FALL OFF OF THE BUS. FOLLOWING VEHICLES COULD THEN RUN OVER THIS OBSTACLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF DAMAGE TO THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AXLE STOPS TO LIMIT REAR SUSPENSION TRAVEL AND FASTENER TORQUE WILL BE CHECKED ON THE SUSPENSION HEIGHT CONTROL ROD. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
NHTSA campaign record ↗Vehicle analysis explorer
Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.
Data completeness
1 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.
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.
| Component | 1999 | 2002 |
|---|---|---|
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | 1100.0%ODI 10129731 · 104,296 miON OUR 1999, FREIGHTLINER/THOMAS FS65 SCHOOL BUSES THE "STEERING WHEEL COVER" IS COMING LOOSE FROM METAL PORTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. FREIGHTLINER TELLS ME THE STEERING WHEEL IS ONLY COVERED BY THE ORIGINAL 12 MONTH WARRANTY. THIS IS A ''SAFETY DEFECT'', BECAUSE IT GIVES THE DRIVER A FALSE FEEL OF THE ROAD AND STEERING. | 0UnavailableNo 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 | Mileage range (25th–75th percentile) | Median | Usable records | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | Too few reports for a range | 104,296 mi | 1 (sparse) | ODI 10129731 · 104,296 miON OUR 1999, FREIGHTLINER/THOMAS FS65 SCHOOL BUSES THE "STEERING WHEEL COVER" IS COMING LOOSE FROM METAL PORTION OF THE STEERING WHEEL. FREIGHTLINER TELLS ME THE STEERING WHEEL IS ONLY COVERED BY THE ORIGINAL 12 MONTH WARRANTY. THIS IS A ''SAFETY DEFECT'', BECAUSE IT GIVES THE DRIVER A FALSE FEEL OF THE ROAD AND STEERING. |
Complaint and recall timeline
Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.
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
| Month | Complaints | Campaigns announced | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2024-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-10 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-11 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2025-12 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-01 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-02 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-03 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-04 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-05 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-06 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-07 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-08 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-09 | 0 | None | No examples available for this selection. |
| 2026-10 (partial) | 0 | 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.
1999: 0 complaints · 2002: 0 complaints
| Model year | Through age 0 | Through age 1 | Through age 2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Date coverage across each selected cohort
| Year | Incident dates used | Filing date fallbacks | Excluded dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2002 | 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 | Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar |
|---|---|
| Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar | — |
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.
0 patterns with matching reports.
No narratives match the published patterns.