RoadVitals

2000 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Er

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 Jul 22, 2008
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.
3
Latest Jun 7, 2016
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2000 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Er, most frequently naming the body & structure category. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 61 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

  • Body & structure1100.0%

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

3 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

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

Jun 7, 2016
717 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 1998-2002 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Conventional, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner ER, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner MVP-EF, 2000-2001 CL-960, 1998-1999 Vista, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner MVP-ER, and 2000-2002 TL-960 transit buses. In the affected vehicles, the stem that connects the outside emergency door handle to the emergency door opening mechanism may corrode.
The risk: If the stem corrodes, the door handle could detach from the emergency door opening mechanism, delaying the opening of the door and the evacuation of the bus. In the event of an emergency, this may increase the risk of injury to the bus occupants.
The remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will either replace the stems or protect them against corrosion, free of charge. An interim notice was sent to owners on July 28, 2016. A second notice was mailed to owners on December 9, 2016 Parts are available. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-713.
Daimler Trucks North America LLCManufacturer number FL-713View on NHTSA.gov

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

Jun 2, 2016
24,698 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 1998-2002 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Conventional, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner ER, 2000-2017 Saf-T-Liner MVP-EF, 1998-1999 Vista, 2003 Saf-T-Liner FS65, 2013-2017 Saf-T-liner C2, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner MVP-ER, 2013-2017 Saf-T-Liner HDX. In the affected vehicles, the stem that connects the outside emergency door handle to the emergency door opening mechanism may corrode.
The risk: If the stem corrodes, the door handle could detach from the emergency door opening mechanism, delaying the opening of the door and the evacuation of the bus. In the event of an emergency, this may increase the risk of injury to the bus occupants.
The remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will either replace the stems or protect them against corrosion, free of charge. An interim notice was sent to owners on July 28, 2016. A second notice was mailed to owners on December 16, 2016. Parts are available. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-713.
Daimler Trucks North America LLCManufacturer number FL-713View on NHTSA.gov

STRUCTURE:BODY

Mar 27, 2001
145 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES BUILT WITH COMPOSITE FRONT ROOF CAPS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH." THE ROOF CAP DOES NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS DUE TO THE OMISSION OF THE ADHESIVE THAT JOINS THE ROOF TO THE BUS BODY.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE ROOF OF THE VEHICLE MAY CRUSH, NOT PROPERLY PROTECTING THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL RE-BOND THE ROOF CAP TO THE ROOF SHEET METAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 14, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-336-889-4871.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed Jul 22, 2008

ANNUAL INSPECTION REVEALED BROKEN ROOF BOWS ON TWO SEPERATE SCHOOL BUSSES. THE THOMAS DEALER HAS AVAILABLE A REPAIR PART AND PROCEDURE, A STIFFENER IS WELDED IN THE BOW AT THE WINDOW HEADER.

NHTSA ID
10235358
Incident
Jul 1, 2008
Mileage
129,000 mi

Manufacturer communications

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

sbt0002

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Technical Publications Ordering

sbt0002

EQUIPMENT

Technical Publications Ordering

sbt0002

EQUIPMENT

Technical Publications Ordering

16-011

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

16-011 New Detroit Camshaft Housing Seal Standard Repair Time

16-009R

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

16-009R_OWL Enhancements

16-008

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

New Detroit Bearing Failure Analysis Standard Diagnostic Time

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 Saf-T-Liner Er by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2013000
2012000
2011000
2010000
2009000
2008000
2007000
2006000
2005000
2004020
2003020
2002150
2001040
2000Viewing130
1997010
1996010
1995010

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.