RoadVitals

1999 Thomas Built Buses Fs-65

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
0
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 Feb 26, 2008
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.
1
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.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Thomas Built Buses Fs-65. 2 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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
08V087000

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

Feb 26, 2008
243,435 units potentially affected
The 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 CORROSION AND PITTING WEAKENS THE HANDLE. HANDLES WEAKENED BY CORROSION MAY BREAK WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR.
The risk: 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.
The 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.
DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICAManufacturer number FL-525View on NHTSA.gov
07V142000

SEAT BELTS

Mar 27, 2007
11,265 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN MY 1994 THROUGH 2002 THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR, FS-65, MVP-EF, ER, AND HDX-EF SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 1994, AND APRIL 15, 2002. THE SEAT BELT MAY CHAFE ON THE EDGE OF A METAL BRACKET AND WEAR PREMATURELY.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE ANY CHAFED SEAT BELTS AND REPLACE OR MODIFY THE RETAINER STRIP TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER CHAFING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 336-889-4871 OR CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 800-547-0712.
FREIGHTLINER LLCManufacturer number FL-495View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE06057ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SEAT BELTS WEBBING ABRADING ON FRAME

Opened Nov 21, 2006
Closed Mar 30, 2007

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM TWO FLEETS ALLEGING THEDISCOVERY OFNUMEROUS SEAT BELTS WITH CUT WEBBING AS A RESULT OF THE WEBBING ABRADING AGAINST ANUNDERSEAT METAL BRACKET.THE SUBJECT VEHICLES ARE CLASS A SCHOOL BUSES WEIGHING UNDER 10,000 POUNDS.THEY ARE REQUIRED BY FEDERAL STANDARD FMVSS 208 TO HAVE SEAT BELTS.AS A RESULT OF THIS INVESTIGATION, FREIGHTLINER WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO INSPECT ALL AFFECTED BUSES FOR SEAT BELT ?CHAFING? AND WILL REPLACEDAMAGED BELTS AS NEEDED. ALSO, THE SEAT BELT RETAINER STRIP WILL BE MODIFIED OR REPLACED TO PREVENT FUTURE CHAFING.FREIGHTLINER EXPANDED THE SCOPE OF THE RECALL (BEYOND THE ORIGINAL INVESTIGATION POPULATION) TO INCLUDE APPROXIMATELY 10,251 ADDITIONAL BUSES HAVING GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS GREATER THAN 10,000 LBS.THEY DETERMINED THAT THESE BUSES ARE ALSO SUSCEPTIBLE TO THE CHAFING ACTION.THERE IS NO FEDERALREQUIREMENT FOR SEAT BELTS IN SCHOOL BUSES WEIGHING OVER 10,000 POUNDS.HOWEVER, SOME CUSTOMERS HAVE ORDERED SEAT BELTS AND SOME STATES HAVE REQUIREMENTS FOR SEAT BELTS.THEREFORE, FREIGHTLINER HAS AGREED TO ADDRESS THOSE BUSES EVEN THOUGH THERE IS NO APPLICABLE FEDERAL STANDARD.THE RECALL ACTION TAKEN BY FREIGHTLINER RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

SEAT BELTSLed to recall 07V142000

Recent owner complaints

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

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

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

51R3

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR; STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS

THOMAS BUILT BUSES: THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF THE FORWARD DOOR LEAF HEX SHAFT BREAKING. *PE

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 Fs-65 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2017010—
2016010—
2015010—
2014010—
2013010—
2012010—
2011020—
2010020—
2009020—
2008043—
2007293—
20061135—
20050105—
2004174—
2003052—
2002043—
2001043—
2000022—
1999Viewing021—
1998021—
1997021—
1996021—
1995021—
1994011—

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.