The Used Car Index

2003 Thomas MVP EF problems

No complaints are listed for the 2003 Thomas MVP EF. NHTSA's API and bulk file list none in this build.

Data build 2026-10-07.

NHTSA lists this vehicle as THOMAS MVP EF.

At a glance

Complaints
0
With crash
0
With fire
0
With injury (complaints)
0
Injuries
0
Deaths
0
Recalls
6
Do not drive recalls
0
Park outside recalls
0
Recall potential units (maximum)
243,435
Investigations
2
Open investigations
0
Manufacturer communications
1

Complaints per 100k sold unavailable. No sales source is available for this record.

Model-generated complaint tags: No complaints are listed for tagging.

Recalls

6 recalls.

08V087000

Date: 2008-02-26. Systems: STRUCTURE.

Defect: 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 CORROS (excerpt)

Consequence: 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. (excerpt)

Remedy: 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. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

07V544000

Date: 2007-11-29. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.

Defect: CERTAIN 2001 THROUGH 2008 THOMAS BUILT FS-56, ER, MVP ER, HDX, AND MVP EF SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 23, 2000, THROUGH JANUARY 24, 2006, EQUIPPED WITH TYCO PC BOARD AND TYPE II AUTO RESET CIRCUIT BREAKERS. TYPE II AUTO RESET CIRCUIT BREAKER TEMPERATURES MAY EXCEED THE RATING OF THE TYCO PC BOARD CAUSING THE BOARDS TO MELT POTENTIALLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Consequence: A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.

Remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES BY REPLACING THE TYPE II AUTO RESET CIRCUIT BREAKERS WITH MANUAL CIRCUIT BREAKERS, AND THE JUMPER CABLE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT CUSTOMER SUPPORT OFFICE AT 336-889-4871.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

05V347000

Date: 2005-08-03. Systems: OTHER.

Defect: CERTAIN 2002-2005 MY THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR, CONVENTIONAL, MVP-ER, ER, HDX, AND MVP-EF MODEL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 8, 2002, AND MARCH 8, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIALTY MFG "5" SERIES STOP ARMS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN STATES OTHER THAN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARY (excerpt)

Consequence: SHOULD THE STOP ARM NOT PERFORM PROPERLY, A CHILD OR PEDESTRIAN MAY BE ENDANGERED BY PASSING VEHICLES SHOULD THE MOTORIST NOT STOP AT THE CORRECT LOCATION. (excerpt)

Remedy: FOR THOSE BUSES OPERATED IN OR NEAR ANY OF THE STATES LISTED ABOVE, THOMAS BUILT IS ENCOURAGING THE BUS OWNERS TO OBTAIN THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH. FOR THOSE BUSES OPERATED IN THE WARMER STATES, DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SWITCH UPON OWNER REQUEST. FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO REQUEST THE REMEDY, THOMAS BUILT WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WITH A SWITCH PACK THAT IS NOT SENSITIVE TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

05V340000

Date: 2005-07-25. Systems: OTHER.

Defect: CERTAIN 2002-2005 MY THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR, CONVENTIONAL, MVP-ER, ER, HDX, AND MVP-EF MODEL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 8, 2002, AND MARCH 8, 2005, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIALTY MFG "5" SERIES STOP ARMS ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETT (excerpt)

Consequence: SHOULD THE STOP ARM NOT PERFORM PROPERLY, A CHILD OR PEDESTRIAN MAY BE ENDANGERED BY PASSING VEHICLES SHOULD THE MOTORIST NOT STOP AT THE CORRECT LOCATION. (excerpt)

Remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WITH A SWITCH PACK THAT IS NOT SENSITIVE TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER AND WILL INSPECT TO ENSURE THE MICROSWITCH HEATER WIRING IS PROPERLY CONNECTED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 14, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT'S CUSTOMER SUPPORT OFFICE AT 336-889-4871. (excerpt)

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

05V205000

Date: 2005-04-27. Systems: FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL.

Defect: CERTAIN 1998-2003 MY FREIGHTLINER FS-65 SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS AND MB-45, MB-55, AND XB SHUTTLE BUS CHASSIS, AND THOMAS BUILT BUS: MVP-ER AND MVP-EF SCHOOL BUS AND NON-SCHOOL BUS MODELS EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB DIESEL ENGINES AND EQUIPPED WITH FEDERAL-MOGAL 12 AND 24 VOLT FUEL LIFT PUMPS. THE FUEL PUMP COULD FAIL TO TRANSFER FUEL APPROPRIATELY CREATING AN ENGINE STALL CONDITION.

Consequence: SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE, A POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: CUMMINS WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS OF FREIGHTLINER AND THOMAS BUILT AND REPLACE THE FUEL LIFT PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-DIESELS.

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

05V137000

Date: 2005-04-01. Systems: STEERING.

Defect: CERTAIN 2001-2004 MY THOMAS BUILT MVP-EF, ER TRANSIT, MVP-ER, HD, AND HDX SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 24, 2000, AND MARCH 4, 2004. THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY CAN FRACTURE AND FAIL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN COMPLETE SEPARATION.

Consequence: TIE ROD FAILURE CAN POSSIBLY RESULT IN COMPLETE WHEEL SEPARATION AND A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL REPLACE THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 6, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT (WE DO NOT YET HAVE A TELEPHONE NUMBER).

Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.

Investigations

2 investigations; 0 open.

PE07054

Opened: 2007-11-09. Closed: 2008-03-04.

EMERGENCY DOOR HANDLE FAILURE

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATIONAFTERBECOMING AWARE THAT FLEETS WERE HAVING HANDLE FAILURES ON THE REAR EMERGENCY DOOR EXIT.THE FAILURE RESULTED IN THE DOOR HANDLE SEPARATING FROM THEDOOR LATCH MECHANISM.WHEN THE HANDLE FAILS, THE REAR EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE THE BUS.THE FAILURE RESULTS FROM CORROSION OF THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE AROU

Systems: STRUCTURE.

Linked campaign numbers: 08V087000.

PE04062

Opened: 2004-09-03. Closed: 2005-02-02.

TIE ROD TUBE FAILURE

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS PROMPTED BY COMPLAINTS FROM TWO SEPARATE SCHOOL BUSFLEETS.BOTH FLEETS ALLEGED THAT WHILE MANEUVERING IN A PARKING AREA, THE TIE-ROD TUBE DISCONNECTED FROM ONE OF THE TIE-RODS.DANA, FREIGHTLINER AND THOMAS BUILT BUSES RECENTLY COMPLETED EXTENSIVE TESING AND DETERMINED THAT A CRACK MAY INITIATE ON THE INTERNAL THREAD ROOT OF THE TIE ROD.THIS CONDITION IS DUE TO INADEQUATE DAMP

Systems: STEERING.

Linked campaign numbers: None listed.

Manufacturer communications

1 manufacturer communications.

Communications by system
SystemCount
EQUIPMENT1
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR1

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

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.

Other names NHTSA uses

None listed.

Matched NHTSA models

Matched labels and complaints
NHTSA model labelComplaints
MVP EF0

Same model, other years

All model years | All Thomas models

Other Thomas models, 2003

Sources

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