Emergency: escape/egress/exitRecall 18V-698 · 2015–2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour
Daimler Trucks North America LLC recall 18V-698 covers 701 2015–2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour for a emergency: escape/egress/exit problem, reported to NHTSA on October 5, 2018. The manufacturer's latest report (2021 Q1) shows 95% of affected vehicles repaired.
Source: NHTSA recall 18V698000 and manufacturer quarterly reports. Started by the manufacturer.
The problem
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses with 36" or 39" wide seats. The rear emergency exit door may not open wide enough to meet the unobstructed emergency egress area requirements. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."
The risk
If the emergency exit door does not open wide enough, it may limit the ability to exit the bus, increasing the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.
The fix
DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will modify the rear door slide system, increasing the angle that the door can open, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on November 8, 2018. The recall began June 28, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-797.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Recall repairs are free. Confirm whether this recall is open on your vehicle by entering its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
How fast cars are being fixed
95%repaired
Share of affected vehicles repaired in each quarterly report the manufacturer filed with NHTSA.