RoadVitals

2010 Thomas Built Buses C2

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
1
Latest May 12, 2011
Safety recallsA 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.
2
Latest Oct 2, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
1

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2010 Thomas Built Buses C2. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 79 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

2 campaigns cover this model year

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
09V394000

OTHER:SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM ASSEMBLY

Oct 2, 2009
2,922 units potentially affected
The defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 31, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 18, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING, INC. (SMI) 000290 LED LIGHT KITS. A CHANGE TO THE WIRE USED IN THE LED LIGHT KITS MAY REDUCE THE EFFECTIVE LIFE OF THE LIGHTS USED ON THE STOP ARMS. THE LIGHTS MAY STOP FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING.
The risk: SHOULD THE LED LIGHTS STOP FUNCTIONING, VISIBILITY OF A STOPPED BUS WOULD BE DECREASED, POSSIBLY ENDANGERING A CHILD OR PEDESTRIAN TO INJURY BY PASSING VEHICLES.
The remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND LIGHT KITS WILL BE REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 3, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-800-547-0712.
DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICAManufacturer number FL-562View on NHTSA.gov
09V355000

STEERING:COLUMN

Sep 15, 2009
1,505 units potentially affected
The defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES AND FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2 MEDIUM DUTY TRUCKS AND FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS S2 VEHICLES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 21 AND JULY 2, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH TRW IGEN 3 INTERMEDIATE STEERING COLUMNS. THE WELD AROUND THE STEERING SHAFT TUBE THAT SECURES THE SPLINE TUBE TO THE INTERMEDIATE TUBE MAY BE MISLOCATED (I.E., NOT FULLY OVER THE SEAM CREATED WHEN THE TUBES ARE PRESSED TOGETHER.)
The risk: MISLOCATED WELDS MAY RESULT IN TORSIONAL AND AXIAL STRENGTH FALLING BELOW ACCEPTABLE LEVELS. THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN SEPARATION OF THE STEERING COLUMN, LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.
The remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND THE VEHICLES WILL BE REPAIRED FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 6, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712.
DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICAManufacturer number FL-554View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Filed May 12, 2011
Fire reported

ON THE MORNING OF MAY 12, 2011 NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS LOCATED IN EDGECOMBE COUNTY WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY A FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE REAR BULKHEAD AREA OF THE BUS THAT HOUSES A CARRIER AIR CONDITIONER AND ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE BUS WAS ON ITS ROUTE PICKING UP CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL WHEN THE CHILDREN BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE AND NOTIFIED THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE BUS AND EVACUATED THE CHILDREN JUST MOMENTS BEFORE FIRE WAS SEEN IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE BUS IN THE REAR BULKHEAD AREA. THE SCHOOL PERSONNEL REPORTING TO THE SCENE DISCONNECTED THE BATTERY FROM THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM FIRST ON THE BUS WHICH WAS ALREADY HEAVILY INVOLVED WITH FLAMES WHEN HE ARRIVED. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED AND EXTINGUISHED THE BLAZE HOWEVER THE BUS WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY THIS TIME. THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE BUS WAS DESTROYED FROM THE FLOOR LEVEL TO THE ROOF AND ONTO THE HOOD COVERING THE ENGINE. THERE WERE 39 CHILDREN ON THE BUS PLUS THE DRIVER AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. THE BUS IS CURRENTLY ISOLATED FOR INVESTIGATION. *TR

NHTSA ID
10400597
Incident
May 12, 2011
Mileage
11,949 mi

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

DOC-1034181

EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER; EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

SS:1034181 TBB AC Testing procedure test Form

DOC-1033857

EQUIPMENT

Service Solution 1033857 TBB Floor Covering Bubbles

DOC-1033422

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM; FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL; FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

SS: 1033422 TBB Fault 6485 Fault 6485 Aftertreatment 1 Diesel Exhaust Fluid pump

DOC-1033383

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; EQUIPMENT:APPLIANCE:AIR CONDITIONER

SS: 103383 TBB Dash Heater Baffel/Control arm parts numbers

DOC-1033383

EQUIPMENT

SS: 103383 TBB Dash Heater Baffel/Control arm parts numbers

C2 13-04R7

EQUIPMENT

C2 13-04R7_Required Tools for Warrantable Repair

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Thomas Built Buses C2 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2010Viewing120—
2007662—
2006162—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.