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Door: hinge and attachmentsRecall 08V-087 · Thomas and Thomas Built Buses vehicles

DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA recall 08V-087 covers 243,435 Thomas and Thomas Built Buses vehicles for a door: hinge and attachments problem, reported to NHTSA on February 26, 2008.

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Vehicles repairedNo manufacturer report yet
Vehicles affected243,4359 models
ReportedFeb 26, 2008Owners notified Aug 18, 2008
Complaints since1Same system, after the recall

Source: NHTSA recall 08V087000 and manufacturer quarterly reports. Started by an NHTSA defect investigation.

What's wrong

The problem

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 243,435 MY 1995-2008 THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1994, AND MARCH 10, 2008. (ADDITIONAL BUSES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT NO. 4) THE EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR HANDLE BEGINS CORRODING AROUND THE SECURING ROLL PIN AND SQUARE DRIVE MECHANISM CAUSING THE PROTECTIVE FINISH TO CHIP AND FLAKE. CONTINUED CORROSION AND PITTING WEAKENS THE HANDLE. HANDLES WEAKENED BY CORROSION MAY BREAK WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR.

The risk

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, A PERSON ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUS MAY BREAK THE DOOR HANDLE TRYING TO OPEN THE EMERGENCY EXIT POTENTIALLY DELAYING EVACUATION AND INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANTS.

What to do

The fix

DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HANDLES WITH A MORE ROBUST HANDLE FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY THOMAS BUILT BUSES DEALERSHIPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2008, AND NOTIFICATION FOR THE REVISED POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 336-889-4871.

DAIMLER TRUCKS RECALL NO. FL-525.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

Recall repairs are free. Confirm whether this recall is open on your vehicle by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

9 models

Vehicles in this recall

Thomas ER2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Thomas ER Transit1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Thomas MVP EF1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Thomas MVP ER1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Thomas Built Buses FS-651995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Thomas Built Buses HDX2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008
Thomas Built Buses HDX EF1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000
Thomas Built Buses Minotour2001, 2002, 2003, 2008
Thomas Built Buses Saf-t-liner C21995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008

Built from January 1, 1994 to March 10, 2008. Not every vehicle in these model years is included; check by VIN.

Background

The investigation behind this recall

  1. EMERGENCY DOOR HANDLE FAILUREPE07054 · closed Mar 4, 2008
    NHTSA