RoadVitals

NHTSA safety recall

Recall 81V146000: SUSPENSION:FRONT:SPRINGS:LEAF SPRING ASSEMBLY

THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. · Reported to NHTSA Dec 8, 1981

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
Units potentially affectedThe manufacturer's own estimate of how many vehicles or items of equipment may contain the defect. It is not a count of failures, and not every unit in the range is necessarily affected.
388
Model years coveredModel years in our database that NHTSA matched to this campaign. Whether an individual vehicle is covered still depends on its VIN.
4
Models covered
1
Grouped from the model years above
Reported to NHTSA
Dec 8, 1981
Production Sep 1, 1978 – Aug 1, 1981

What this recall covers

NHTSA's campaign record, quoted as published

The defect

AN INSUFFICIENT WELD MAY EXIST IN THE REINFORCING GUSSET PLATE ON FRONT, RIGHT AND/OR LEFT SPRING HANGER, OR THE WELD MAY BE MISSING ENTIRELY. THE SPRING-HANGERS ARE BRACKETS LOCATED ON EITHER SIDE OF THE AXLE. DEFECTIVE OR MISSING WELDS CAN CAUSE CRACKS TO FORM IN THE SPRING-HANGER.

The remedy

IF THE HANGER IS CRACKED, THE GUSSET AND THE CRACK WILL BE WELDED. A REPLACEMENT HANGER WILL THEN BE ORDERED AND INSTALLED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WITHOUT CHARGE TO OWNER.

Notes

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES.SYSTEM: SUSPENSION; FRONT SPRING-HANGERS.CONSEQUENCES OF DEFECT: CRACKS MAY LEAD TO COMPLETE FAILURE OF THE SPRINGHANGERS, WHICH COULD CAUSE LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL AND AN ACCIDENT.

A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.

Campaign details

Identifiers and dates as filed with NHTSA

Manufacturer
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Manufacturer's campaign number
Not recorded
NHTSA campaign number
81V146000
Units potentially affected
388
Report received
Dec 8, 1981
Production range
Sep 1, 1978 – Aug 1, 1981
Campaign type
Vehicle
Federal safety standard (FMVSS)
Not recorded

Vehicles covered

4 model years across 1 model

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.