RoadVitals

NHTSA safety recall

Recall 86V079000: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:SPRINGS

THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. · Reported to NHTSA Jun 16, 1986

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.
942
Model years coveredModel years in our database that NHTSA matched to this campaign. Whether an individual vehicle is covered still depends on its VIN.
10
Models covered
2
Grouped from the model years above
Reported to NHTSA
Jun 16, 1986
Production Nov 1, 1981 – Jun 1, 1986

What this recall covers

NHTSA's campaign record, quoted as published

The defect

TWO THROTTLE RETURN SPRING DEFECTS ARE INVOLVED IN THIS RECALL. (1) BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR ENGINES MAY HAVE A THROTTLE RETURN SPRING THAT BREAKS AND PREVENTS THE THROTTLE FROM RETURNING TO IDLE POSITION WHEN THE DRIVER'S FOOT IS REMOVED FROM THE ACCELERATOR CONTROL; (2) BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS VT-225 ENGINES MAY HAVE THE THROTTLE RETURN SPRING CONNECTED TO THE THROTTLE SLAVE CYLINDER INSTEAD OF THE FUEL INJECTION PUMP LEVER. IF FAILURE OCCURS IN THE ACCELERATION CONTROL SYSTEM, THE ENGINE MAY ACCELERATE TO ITS MAXIMUM GOVERNED RPM. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IN EITHER CASE, THROTTLE CONTROL WILL BE LOST WHICH MAY RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.

The remedy

A REPAIR KIT CONSISTING OF NEW SPRING, MOUNTING BRACKET AND PROPER REPAIR INSTRUCTIONS WILL BE SHIPPED TO EACH OWNER AT NO CHARGE AND THE OWNER MAY MAKE HIS OWN REPAIRS, OR HAVE A THOMAS DISTRIBUTOR OR A REPUTABLE LOCAL SHOP MAKE THE REPAIRS.

Notes

SYSTEM: THROTTLE LEVER RETURN SPRING. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT AND SCHOOL BUSES WITH A GVWR GREATER THAN 10,000 POUNDS.

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
86V079000
Units potentially affected
942
Report received
Jun 16, 1986
Production range
Nov 1, 1981 – Jun 1, 1986
Campaign type
Vehicle
Federal safety standard (FMVSS)
Not recorded

Vehicles covered

10 model years across 2 models

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.