1983 Thomas Thomas Recalls

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 88V176000
Manufacturer: THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Manufactured Begin Date: February 1st, 1980
Manufactured End Date: April 1st, 1988
Date of Owner Notification: March 27th, 1989

Defect Summary:
MOVABLE PART OF SEAT IS NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO SUPPORT THE SEAT BELT.

Consequence Summary:
SEAT BELT MAY NOT PROPERLY RESTRAIN DRIVER.

Corrective Summary:
INSTALL A TETHER STRAP.

Recall Notes:
SYSTEM: SEAT BELT.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BUSES AND SCHOOL BUSES WITH SUSPENSION TYPE DRIVERS SEATS.

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 88V134000
Manufacturer: THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Manufactured Begin Date: March 1st, 1980
Manufactured End Date: February 1st, 1988
Date of Owner Notification: October 5th, 1988

Defect Summary:
LUGGAGE RACK ABOVE THE SEATS PROTRUDES INTO THE UPPER LIMIT OF THE HEAD IMPACT ZONE.

Consequence Summary:
BUSES DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 222.

Corrective Summary:
REPOSITION LUGGAGE RACK.

Recall Notes:
SYSTEM: LUGGAGE RACK/FMVSS 222.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES.

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 87V096000
Manufacturer: THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Manufactured Begin Date: January 1st, 1980
Manufactured End Date: May 1st, 1987
Date of Owner Notification: June 22nd, 1987

Defect Summary:
OPENING THE ROOF HATCH PAST 90 DEGREES CAN DISENGAGE THE HINGE PIN RETAINER RING ALLOWING THE HINGE PINS TO WORK OUT.

Consequence Summary:
ROOF HATCH COULD SEPARATE FROM THE BUS AND INJUREINDIVIDUALS IN THE VICINITY.

Corrective Summary:
INSTALL TWO HINGE PINS TO PREVENT ROOF HATCH SEPARATION.

Recall Notes:
SYSTEM: ROOF HATCH.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BUSES AND SCHOOL BUSES WITH EMERGENCY ROOF EXISTS.

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 85V154000
Manufacturer: THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Manufactured Begin Date: July 1st, 1982
Manufactured End Date: November 1st, 1985

Defect Summary:
THE BODY IS SUBJECT TO SHIFT FORWARD DURING AN IMPACT AND THE FUEL FILLER HOSE AND/OR FUEL VENT LINE HOSE MAY SEPARATE FROM EITHER THE FUEL FILLER NECK OR THE GAS TANK. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 301. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: A FUEL SPILL COULD OCCUR AND POSSIBLY RESULT IN A FIRE.

Corrective Summary:
INSTALL NEW FUEL FILLER AND VENT LINE HOSES, WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF BEING STRETCHED BEYOND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE BODY COULD SHIFT FORWARD DURING A 30 MPH FRONTAL IMPACT.

Recall Notes:
SYSTEM: FUEL/FMVSS 301. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUS WITH GVWR OF 10,000 LBS. OR LESS AND BUSES OVER 10,000 LBS.

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 85V143000
Manufacturer: THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Manufactured Begin Date: January 1st, 1980
Manufactured End Date: July 1st, 1985

Defect Summary:
SANDERS WERE INSTALLED WITHOUT REINFORCEMENT PLATES AT POINT WHERE MOUNTING ANGLE BRACKETS ARE ATTACHED TO THE BUS BODY FLOOR CHANNEL. FLOOR CHANNEL MAY CRACK, POSSIBLY ALLOWING THE SANDER TO BECOME DETACHED FROM THE BUS BODY FLOOR CHANNEL. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IF SANDER BECOMES DETACHED IT WILL POSE A SAFETY HAZARD TO OTHER VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY.

Corrective Summary:
INSTALL REINFORCEMENT PLATES TO PREVENT CRACKING OF FLOOR CHANNEL.

Recall Notes:
SYSTEM: STRUCTURE/REINFORCEMENT PLATES.VEHICLE DESCRIPTION. BUSES PRODUCED WITH OPTIONAL ELECTRIC TRACTION SANDERS LOCATED AHEAD OF THE REAR WHEELS.

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 85V017000
Manufacturer: THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Manufactured Begin Date: September 1st, 1982
Manufactured End Date: February 1st, 1983
Date of Owner Notification: February 12th, 1985

Defect Summary:
THE RACK AND GEAR TYPE LATCH ASSEMBLY OF THE EMERGENCY DOORS CAN BE OVERSTRESSED BY MISUSE OF THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE, MAKING THE GEARS SUBJECT TO FAILURE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THESE GEARS TO FAIL WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE EMERGENCY DOOR. THIS COULD RESULT IN PASSENGERS BEING TRAPPED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.

Corrective Summary:
INSTALL COMPLETE NEW LATCH ASSEMBLIES WITH METAL GEARS TO REPLACE THE NYLON MATERIAL.

Recall Notes:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUS WITH GVWR GREATER THAN 10,000 POUNDS.SYSTEM: EMERGENCY DOOR LATCH ASSEMBLY.

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 84V130000
Manufacturer: THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Manufactured Begin Date: April 1st, 1979
Manufactured End Date: February 1st, 1984
Date of Owner Notification: October 31st, 1984

Defect Summary:
THE TURN SIGNAL MECHANISM IN THE STEERING COLUMN MAY BREAK; THE BROKEN PIECE MAY BECOME JAMMED IN THE STEERING COLUMN. WHILE USING THE TURN SIGNAL AND TURNING IN EITHER DIRECTION, THE OPERATOR MAY EXPERIENCE EITHER INCREASED STEERING EFFORT IN THE TURN, OR BINDING IN THE STEERING WHEEL WHEN THE WHEEL IS RETURNED TO A STRAIGHT POSITION.

Corrective Summary:
A REPLACEMENT SWITCH WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO OWNERS; OWNER HAS THE OPTION TO MAKE THE REPAIR HIMSELF OR HAVE IT DONE BY A DEALER. THERE WILL BE NO CHARGE TO THE OWNER FOR THE SWITCH OR THE REPAIR.

Recall Notes:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: BUSES WITHOUT FLOOR MOUNTED TURN SIGNAL SWITCHES.SYSTEM: LIGHTING AND COMMUNICATIONS; TURN SIGNAL SWITCH.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: INCREASED STEERING EFFORT OR BINDING COULD RESULT INLOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.