Thomas BUS recalls by model year

Reported: 1979-03-08 (March 8, 1979) · Model years: 1977

VEHICLES FAIL TO MEET FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 222, "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION", IN REGARD TO BARRIER FORCE LEVEL PERFORMANCE. THE BARRIER PERFORMANCE FORWARD EXCEEDED THE FORCE LEVEL OF 2400 POUNDS.

Remedy: DEFECT FREE BARRIERS WILL BE PROVIDED FOR OWNER INSTALLATION FREE OF CHARGE. REIMBURSEMENT FOR LABOR WILL BE PAID AT THE USUAL RATE FOR WARRANTY WORK.

Reported: 1992-01-03 (January 3, 1992) · Model years: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992

THE CENTER ACTUATOR THAT RELEASES TWO CATCHES VIA TWO PULL RODS CAN BECOME NON-FUNCTIONAL FROM POOR OR IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, LACK OF LUBRICATION, CORROSION, OR A COMBINATION ALL THREE CAUSES.

Consequence: WHEN THE CENTER ACTUATOR IS NON-FUNCTIONAL, THE WINDOWIS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN, AND WOULD NOT FUNCTION AS AN EMERGENCY EXIT IN CASEOF A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REMOVE THE OLD CENTER ACTUATOR AND INSTALL AN IMPROVED ACTUATOR.

Reported: 1991-10-03 (October 3, 1991) · Model years: 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990

RELEASE HANDLE FOR REAR PUSH OUT WINDOW IS NOT LOCATED IN AREA REQUIRED BY S5.2.3.1(B) OF FMVSS 217.

Consequence: BUSES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH STANDARDS; IN AN EMERGENCY,EXIT FROM THE PUSH-OUT WINDOW COULD BE HAMPERED.

Remedy: INSTALL NEW INTERIOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY TO MEET SPECIFICATIONS.

Reported: 1990-02-09 (February 9, 1990) · Model years: 1988, 1989, 1990

UPPER ANCHORAGE OF TYPE 2 SAFETY BELT INSTALLED AT THE DRIVER'S SEATING POSITION IS NOT WITHIN THE SPECIFIED RANGE AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.

Consequence: BELTS MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE AND OBSTRUCT VISION TO THE LEFT; BUSES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH STANDARD.

Remedy: INSTALL REINFORCING CHANNEL ASSURING THAT BELTS ARE WITHIN SPECIFIED RANGE.

Reported: 1991-10-01 (October 1, 1991) · Model years: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991

THE FUEL SHUT-OFF SOLENOID IN THE CUMMINS 6C ENGINE MAY BE FAULTY, CAUSING SPONTANEOUS INTERRUPTION OF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER TO DRIVING WHEELS, POWER STEERING, AND OTHER POWER ASSISTED OPERATING SYSTEMS.

Consequence: LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SECONDARY LOSS OF POWER ASSISTEDSYSTEMS REDUCES STEERING CONTROL, BRAKING ABILITY, VISUAL SYSTEMS AND OTHERPOWER ASSISTED OPERATING SYSTEMS, RESULTING IN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLEACCIDENT.

Remedy: WHERE NECESSARY, REPLACE THE SOLENOID SPRING, ADJUST SOLENOID, REPLACE WIRES, AND VERIFY MAXIMUM POWER REQUIREMENTS TO THE SOLENOID.

Reported: 1992-08-24 (August 24, 1992) · Model years: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992

THE DRIVESHAFT USED WITH SOME ENGINE/TRANSMISSION COMBINATIONS HAD INSUFFICIENT WELDS JOINING SOME OF THE COMPONENTS.

Consequence: THE BAD WELDS CAN DEVELOP CRACKS THAT CAN CAUSE COMPLETESEPARATION OF THE DRIVESHAFT. THIS CAN RESULT IN LOSS OF MOTIVE POWER FOR THEVEHICLE AND POSSIBLE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL.

Remedy: REPLACE DEFECTIVE NORTH AMERICAN DRIVESHAFTS WITH SPICER DRIVESHAFTS.

Reported: 1989-11-06 (November 6, 1989) · Model years: 1989

THE ADJUSTABLE SEAT BACK STRUCTURE AND TILT MECHANISM MAY NOT WITHSTAND REARWARD FORCE REQUIRED BY FMVSS 207.

Consequence: BUSES ARE NOT IN COMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 207; SEATBACKCOULD FAIL IN AN ACCIDENT INCREASING POTENTIAL FOR INJURY TO OCCUPANT.

Remedy: INSTALL NEW SEAT BACK STRUCTURE AND TILT MECHANISM ASSEMBLY THAT COMPLIES WITH STANDARD.

Reported: 1991-04-15 (April 15, 1991) · Model years: 1990

DRIVER'S SAFETY BELT IS TOO SHORT TO MEET LENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 209.

Consequence: SHORT SAFETY BELTS WOULD DISCOURAGE DRIVER FROM USINGTHEM. SEAT OCCUPANT NOT USING SAFETY BELT WOULD NOT HAVE ADEQUATE PROTECTION INCASE OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE BELT ASSEMBLY WITH A COMPLIANT VERSION.

Reported: 1991-09-12 (September 12, 1991) · Model years: 1990, 1991

THE STEERING LINKAGE (DRAG LINK) BETWEEN THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN ARM AND THE STEERING ARM ON THE AXLE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FASTENED.

Consequence: THE DRAG LINK COULD BECOME DISCONNECTED AT EITHER ENDWHICH RESULTS IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: INSTALL CORRECT PINS AND PROPERLY TIGHTEN THE CASTELLATED NUTS.

Reported: 1992-09-08 (September 8, 1992) · Model years: 1991, 1992

INCORRECT SCREWS WERE USED TO ATTACH THE PLYWOOD SEAT BACK TO THE SEAT FRAME.

Consequence: THE DRIVER'S SEAT BACK DOES NOT MEET THE STRENGTHREQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 207, "SEATING SYSTEM". SHOULD THE SEAT BACK FAIL WHILETHE BUS IS IN MOTION, THE OPERATOR COULD LOSE CONTROL OF THE BUS.

Remedy: REMOVE INCORRECT SCREWS ATTACHING THE PLYWOOD BACK TO THE SEAT FRAME AND INSTALL PROPER SCREWS.

Reported: 1993-03-03 (March 3, 1993) · Model years: 1991, 1992

THE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE BOLTS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES". THE SEAT ANCHORAGES COULD NOT MAINTAIN LOAD OF 5,000 LBS FOR 10 SECONDS.

Consequence: THE SAFETY BELTS MIGHT NOT ADEQUATELY PROTECT SEATOCCUPANTS IN THE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

Remedy: REPLACE THE ANCHORAGE BOLTS WITH BOLTS OF A LARGER DIAMETER, WHICH MEET THE LOAD REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 210.

Reported: 1992-05-19 (May 19, 1992) · Model years: 1992

A BRAKE AIR LINE PLUMBING ERROR CAUSES THE SPRING BRAKES TO BE APPLIED WITHOUT BRAKE APPLICATION WHEN THE AIR PRESSURE IN THE PRIMARY TANK DROPS TO A LEVEL WHICH AUTOMATICALLY ACTIVATES THE SPRING BRAKE SYSTEM.

Consequence: ACTIVATION OF THE SPRING BRAKE SYSTEM WITHOUT OPERATORBRAKE APPLICATION WILL CAUSE THE SPRING BRAKE TO BE APPLIED, LOCKING THE BRAKESWITHOUT ANY WARNING TO THE OPERATOR.

Remedy: REPLACE AND REROUTE AIR BRAKE HOSE TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS 121.

Reported: 1994-06-27 (June 27, 1994) · Model years: 1994

A CABLE INSTALLED TO TEMPORARILY BYPASS THE NEUTRAL SWITCH TO ENABLE THE ENGINE TO BE STARTED WAS NOT REMOVED AT DELIVERY. THE CABLE ALLOWS THE BUS TO BE STARTED WHILE IN A FORWARD OR REVERSE DRIVE GEAR.

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: STARTING A BUS IN A DRIVE GEAR CAN RESULT IN UNINTENTIONAL MOVEMENT AND COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE TEMPORARY CABLE AND INSTALL A NEW RELAY.

Reported: 1995-01-30 (January 30, 1995) · Model years: 1994, 1995

A POWER CONNECTOR IN THE MAIN WIRING HARNESS CAN BECOME CORRODED CAUSING LOSS OF POWER.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN A TOTAL LOSS OF POWER TO THE BUS, IMMOBILIZING THE BUS, DISABLE THE LIGHTS, AND INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE AND SEAL THE CONNECTORS.