RoadVitals

2009 Thomas Built Buses Hdx

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.
2
Latest May 5, 2010
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.
6
Latest Aug 31, 2011
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2009 Thomas Built Buses Hdx, most frequently naming the electrical and exterior lighting categories. 6 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 85 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Electrical150.0%
  • Exterior lighting150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

6 campaigns cover this model year

View all 6

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
11V455000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Aug 31, 2011
43 units potentially affected
The defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2005 THROUGH 2012 FREIGHTLINER M2, STERLING ACTERRA, 7500 & 8500, AND THOMAS BUILT HDX VEHICLES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 23, 2004, THROUGH MARCH 15, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE900 EPA04 AND EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.
The risk: A SHORT CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE VEHICLES FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 12, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712. THIS RECALL IS AN EXPANSION OF A PREVIOUS RECALL, CAMPAIGN NUMBER 10V-341.
DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICAManufacturer number 10C-5View on NHTSA.gov
10V340000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Jul 27, 2010
5,445 units potentially affected
The defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2011 FCCC B2 106 CH AND THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 AND HDX SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 5, 2006 THROUGH JUNE 30, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIFIC MBE900 EPA04 AND EPA07 MODEL ENGINES. THE INTAKE AIR GRID HEATER MAY SHORT CIRCUIT AND FAIL DUE TO EXCESSIVE INTERNAL TEMPERATURES.
The risk: A SHORT CIRCUITED GRID HEATER COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE AND INJURY TO VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DETROIT DIESEL CORPORATION AUTHORIZED REPAIR FACILITIES. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT JULY 29, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712.
DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICAManufacturer number 10C-5View on NHTSA.gov
10V183000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

May 3, 2010
1,515 units potentially affected
The defect: DTNA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 HDX SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED ON NOVEMBER 15, 2007 THROUGH JUNE 15, 2009. THE HEATER COOLANT FLOW VALVE ACTUATOR 0-RING MAY ALLOW COOLANT LEAKAGE INTO THE HEATER CORE COMPARTMENT AND THE ACTUATOR PC BOARD AREA POTENTIALLY CAUSING THE ACTUATOR TO OVERHEAT AND/OR MELT.
The risk: AN OVERHEATED AND/OR MELTED ACTUATOR MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
The remedy: DTNA WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY THOMAS BUILT DEALERSHIPS FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 6, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-336-889-4871.
DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICAView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE10011ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

Dash Fires

Opened Apr 21, 2010
Closed May 26, 2010

This investigation was opened after ODIlearned of two dash fires that occurred on model year 2008 rear engine school buses.This investigation was opened to further study these fires and assess the risk. On April 30, 2010, Daimler filed a defect report concerning this matter. School buses built between November 15, 2007, through June 15, 2009, and non-school buses built between November 20, 2007, through May 8, 2009 will have thedash heater actuator replaced with a more robust actuator to prevent leakage of coolant. This safety recall resolves the issue raised by this investigation and this investigation is closed.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRINGLed to recall 10V183000

Recent owner complaints

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

Exterior lighting
Filed May 5, 2010

I RECEIVED A NOTICE (NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER : 10V177) YESTERDAY REGARDING STOPLAMP FAILURE ON THOMAS C2 BUSES. OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT HAS EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR PROBLEM OF INTERMITTENT STOPLAMP OPERATION ON ONE OF OUR 2009 HDX THOMAS BUSES. A RESISTOR (NOT SHOWN ON THOMAS WIRING DIAGRAMS) WAS PLACED IN THE WIRE FROM THE STOPLAMP SWITCH AND WAS DEFECTIVE. *TR

NHTSA ID
10328929
Incident
Feb 25, 2010
Mileage
26,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 1, 2010
Fire reported

1. AFTER DRIVING THE 2009 THOMAS HDX BUS FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS, DRIVER WAS BRINGING THE BUS TO A STOP, AND BEFORE HE ACTIVATED THE DOORS OR ANY OTHER ELECTRICAL ACCESSORIES, HE SAW SMOKE COMING UP FROM THE DASH IN FRONT OF THE STEERING WHEEL. HE REPORTED THE SMOKE COMING FROM THE TOP OF THE DASH NEAR THE WINDSHIELD, NOT FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE DASH AND NOT FROM THE VENT LOCATED ABOVE THE SWITCH PANEL TO THE LEFT OF THE OPERATOR'S SEAT. DRIVER SHUT THE BUS OFF. APPROX. 5-10 MINUTES LATER, SMOKE WAS SEEN COMING FROM THE OPERATOR'S WINDOW AND THE OPEN FOLDING DOORS. FLAMES WERE OBSERVED BURNING ACROSS THE INSIDE OF THE FRONT OF THE BUS. FIRE DEPARTMENT NOTIFIED, ARRIVED IN APPROX. 5-10 MINUTES AND EXTINGUISHED THE FIRE. 2. BUS WAS DETERMINED TO BE A TOTAL LOSS. 3. INVESTIGATION TO DETERMINE ORIGIN AND CAUSE OF THE FIRE INDETERMINATE AS TO SPECIFIC COMPONENT IN THE CIRCUIT BREAKER AREA; HOWEVER THOMAS SUBSEQUENTLY ISSUED A RECALL.

NHTSA ID
10323346
Incident
Oct 26, 2009
Mileage
20,351 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

PAB005-2019

EQUIPMENT; EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY; STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

Thomas Built Buses Product Awareness Bulletin on Improved Through Lugg Compt Dr

DOC-1034175

VISIBILITY

SS:1034175 TBB Removing Window Stops from Passenger Windows

sbu00016

EQUIPMENT

Service Bulletin Paper Copy Mailings Are Discontinued

1208-18

ENGINE; EQUIPMENT

Service Information Bulletin- Oil Present at the Turbocharger Compressor Housing

DOC-1033968

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS

Service Solution: 1033968 TBB Warning Lights, One Side Flashes Faster than the Other

DOC-1033968

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM; EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HAZARD FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS

Service Solution: 1033968 TBB Warning Lights, One Side Flashes Faster than the Other

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 Hdx by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2023010—
2015010—
2012010—
2011060—
2010081—
2009Viewing261—
2008082—
20070122—
20060123—
2005082—
2004071—
2003040—
2002020—
2001020—

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.