2009 Thomas Built Buses HDX: complaints, problems and recalls

1. AFTER DRIVING THE 2009 THOMAS HDX BUS FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, DRIVER WAS BRINGING THE BUS TO A STOP, AND BEFORE HE ACTIVATED THE DOORS OR ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, HE SAW SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE DASH IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. HE REPORTED THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE DASH NEAR THE WINDSHIELD, NOT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DASH AND NOT FROM THE VENT LOCATED ABOVE THE SWITCH PANEL TO THE LEFT OF THE OPERATOR'S SEAT. DRIVER SHUT THE BUS OFF. APPROX. 5-10 MINUTES LATER, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE OPERATOR'S WINDOW AND T…

Owner-reported narrative. 20,351 miles reported. Look up ODI 10323346 at NHTSA ↗

I RECEIVED A NOTICE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 10V177) YESTERDAY REGARDING STOPLAMP FAILURE ON THOMAS C2 BUSES. OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM OF INTERMITTENT STOPLAMP OPERATION ON ONE OF OUR 2009 HDX THOMAS BUSES. A RESISTOR (NOT SHOWN ON THOMAS WIRING DIAGRAMS) WAS PLACED IN THE WIRE FROM THE STOPLAMP SWITCH AND WAS DEFECTIVE. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 26,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10328929 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2008-11-26 (November 26, 2008)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 18,198 MY 2003-2009 THOMAS BUILT ER, MVP-ER, HDX, AND MVP-EF SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH A DUAL POWER SWITCH AND MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 1, 2002 THROUGH OCTOBER 17, 2008. SOLID STATE CIRCUIT BREAKERS MAY TRIP UNNECESSARILY POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A LOSS OF POWER TO THE BUS CHASSIS AND BODY ELECTRICAL CIRCUITS CAUSING AN UNEXPECTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING.

Consequence: UNEXPECTED LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND EXTERIOR LIGHTING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: THOMAS BUILT BUS DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SOLID STATE DUAL POWER SWITCH WITH A MECHANICAL CIRCUIT PRODUCTION (MEGA FUSE). THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING APRIL 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-336-889-4871.

Reported: 2009-10-02 (October 2, 2009)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 31, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 18, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING, INC. (SMI) 000290 LED LIGHT KITS. A CHANGE TO THE WIRE USED IN THE LED LIGHT KITS MAY REDUCE THE EFFECTIVE LIFE OF THE LIGHTS USED ON THE STOP ARMS. THE LIGHTS MAY STOP FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING.

Consequence: SHOULD THE LED LIGHTS STOP FUNCTIONING, VISIBILITY OF A STOPPED BUS WOULD BE DECREASED, POSSIBLY ENDANGERING A CHILD OR PEDESTRIAN TO INJURY BY PASSING VEHICLES.

Remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND LIGHT KITS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 3, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2010-05-03 (May 3, 2010)

DTNA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 HDX SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED ON NOVEMBER 15, 2007 THROUGH JUNE 15, 2009. THE HEATER COOLANT FLOW VALVE ACTUATOR 0-RING MAY ALLOW COOLANT LEAKAGE INTO THE HEATER CORE COMPARTMENT AND THE ACTUATOR PC BOARD AREA POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE ACTUATOR TO OVERHEAT AND/OR MELT.

Consequence: AN OVERHEATED AND/OR MELTED ACTUATOR MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DTNA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY THOMAS BUILT DEALERSHIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-336-889-4871.

Reported: 2010-05-03 (May 3, 2010)

DTNA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 HDX NON SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BEGINNING NOVEMBER 20, 2007 THROUGH MAY 8, 2009. THE HEATER COOLANT FLOW VALVE ACTUATOR 0-RING MAY ALLOW COOLANT LEAKAGE INTO THE HEATER CORE COMPARTMENT AND THE ACTUATOR PC BOARD AREA POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE ACTUATOR TO OVERHEAT AND/OR MELT.

Consequence: AN OVERHEATED AND/OR MELTED ACTUATOR MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: DTNA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY THOMAS BUILT DEALERSHIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-336-889-4871.

Reported: 2010-07-27 (July 27, 2010)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2011 FCCC B2 106 CH AND THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 AND HDX SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2006 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE900 EPA04 AND EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.

Consequence: A SHORT CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 29, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2011-08-31 (August 31, 2011)

DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2012 FREIGHTLINER M2, STERLING ACTERRA, 7500 & 8500, AND THOMAS BUILT HDX VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 23, 2004, THROUGH MARCH 15, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE900 EPA04 AND EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.

Consequence: A SHORT CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712. THIS RECALL IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS RECALL, CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V-341.