Defect: ON CERTAIN SCHOOL OR TRANSIT BUSES WITH PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WITH RETRACTORS, THE COVER HALVES FOR THE RETRACTABLE PORTION OF THE BELT CAN SEPARATE COMPLETELY AND RELEASE THE SEAT BELT CONNECTOR. IF THIS OCCURS, ONE OF THE LOAD BEARING PINS IN THE CONNECTOR COULD SEPARATE FROM THE CONNECTOR AND RENDER THE SEAT BELT UNUSABLE. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRA (excerpt)
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, ONE OF THE LOAD BEARING PINS IN THE CONNECTOR COULD SEPARATE FROM THE CONNECTOR AND RENDER THE SEAT BELT UNUSABLE. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED RESULTING IN AN INJURY. (excerpt)
Remedy: DEALERS WILL PROVIDE A PLASTIC OUTER COVER THAT SNAPS OVER THE EXISTING COVER ON UNITS IN THE FIELD AND WILL REPLACE BROKEN SEAT BELTS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 336-841-5924 OR AMSAFE AT 574-266-8330. (excerpt)
Defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SAFETY BELT ASSEMBLIES PRODUCED BY AM-SAFE. ON SOME SEAT BELTS, THE BUCKLE AND CONNECTOR MAY UNLATCH DURING A COLLISION.
Consequence: SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH COULD OCCUR IF THE VEHICLE OCCUPANT IS NOT PROPERLY RESTRAINED.
Remedy: AM-SAFE NOTIFIED THOMAS BUILT'S CUSTOMERS TO RETURN THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE SEAT BELTS REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 21, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-336-889-4871.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
1 investigations; 0 open.
EA04014
Opened: 2004-06-09. Closed: 2004-12-20.
SCHOOL BUS LIGHTING FAILURES
SEE ATTACHED FOUR PAGE TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.
Systems: EXTERIOR LIGHTING, INTERIOR LIGHTING.
Linked campaign numbers: None listed.
Manufacturer communications
2 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system
System
Count
EQUIPMENT
1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
1
STRUCTURE
1
10034604
Date: 2008-07-30. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT, SERVICE BRAKES, AIR.
THOMAS BUILT: IT HAS BEEN DETERMINED THAT CERTAIN MODEL BUSES, ER-HD, HDX AND MVP-EF UNITS, HAVE THE VON #70 S-CAM BRACKETS THAT COULD DEVELOP CRACKS IN THE LOWER PORTION. *PE
10025902
Date: 2008-02-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: STRUCTURE.
THOMAS BUILT BUSES: THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF THE FORWARD DOOR LEAF HEX SHAFT BREAKING. *PE
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.
NHTSA's complaints API and bulk file list no complaint for this make, model and model year in this data build.