RoadVitals

2000 Thomas Bus

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.
3
Latest Nov 15, 2005
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.
0
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.
3
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
2 injuries, 1 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2000 Thomas Bus, most frequently naming the interior & seats, seat belts and tires & wheels categories. 3 NHTSA investigations name it.

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

  • Interior & seats133.3%
  • Seat belts133.3%
  • Tires & wheels133.3%

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

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Safety investigations

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

PE07008ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

RESTRICTED BRAKE PEDAL MOVEMENT

Opened Feb 12, 2007
Closed Apr 16, 2007

ODI WAS CONTACTED BY THE NEW YORK DOT WHO REPORTEDSEVERAL BUSES FAILED BRAKING TESTS WHEN BEING TESTED DURING AN ANNUAL INSPECTION. THE SUBJECT SCHOOL BUSES ARE OPTIONED WITH AN ADJUSTABLE FOOT PEDAL POSITIONING DEVICE THAT ALLOWS THE DRIVER TO RAISE AND LOWER THE BRAKE PEDAL HEIGHT TO SUIT HIS/HER SEATING POSITION.WHEN THE LOWEST PEDAL POSITION IS SELECTED (BY A BUTTON ON THE DASHBOARD), NYDOT REPORTED THAT THE BRAKE PEDAL BOTTOMED OUT ON THE FLOOR, THUS PREVENTING A FULL BRAKE PEDAL APPLICATION.THIS RESULTED IN A REDUCTION OF BRAKE TORQUE AT THE WHEEL ENDS.FREIGHTLINER WILL CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO CORRECT THIS PROBLEM.THE REMEDY CALLS FOR A LONGER PEDAL PUSH ROD BEING INSTALLED IN- PLACE OF THE ORIGINAL PUSH ROD. THEY ALSO INCREASED THE POPULATION TO INCLUDE THE MVP-ER MODEL BUSES.THIS RESOLVES THE ISSUE RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS:FOOT CONTROL/VALVELed to recall 07V137000
EA04014ClosedEngineering Analysis

SCHOOL BUS LIGHTING FAILURES

Opened Jun 9, 2004
Closed Dec 20, 2004

SEE ATTACHED FOUR PAGE TECHNICAL REPORT FOR DETAILS.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
PE04012ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

HEADLIGHT SWITCH FAILURES

Opened Feb 2, 2004
Closed Jun 9, 2004

ODI HAS RECEIVED SEVERAL FAILED SWITCHES THAT SHOW SIGNS OF MELTING OR DAMAGE FROM OVER- HEATING.THE SWITCH SUPPLIER HAS INITIATED A TEST PROGRAM TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE OF THESE FAILURES.ODI IS CONCERNED ABOUT THE PRESENCE OF A HEAT SOURCE THAT POTENTIALLY COULD LEAD TO AN ELECTRICAL FIRE, AS WELL AS THE ABSENCE OF NECESSARY VEHICLE LIGHTING.ODI WILL CONTINUE ITS INVESTIGATION TO VERIFY THE EXTENT OF THE PROBLEM REPRESENTED BY THE REPORTED FAILURES AND EVALUATE THE ASSOCIATED RISKS.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH

Recent owner complaints

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

Interior & seats
Filed Nov 15, 2005
Crash reported2 injuries reported1 death reported

DT: THE CONTACT STATES THERE WAS AN ACCIDENT ON 8/9/05 INVOLVING AN SUV AND A THOMAS BUILT TYPE C WHEEL CHAIR BUS. THE DRIVER OF THE SUV CROSSED THE CENTER LINE AND HIT THE BUS HEAD ON. THE ESTIMATED SPEED OF THE SUV WAS IN EXCESS OF 70 MPH AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. UPON IMPACT THE SERVICE DOOR OPENED AND ONE OF THE BUS OCCUPANTS WAS EJECTED. TWO PERSONS IN THE BUS WERE INJURED AND THE DRIVER OF THE SUV WAS KILLED. BOTH VEHICLES WERE TOTALED AS A RESULT OF THE ACCIDENT. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT TAKEN AT THE SCENE. THE DOOR WAS LATCHED AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT. UPON INSPECTION THERE WAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE TO THE LATCH. THE BUS MANUFACTURER HAS BEEN CONTACTED TO INSPECT THE SERVICE DOOR OF THE BUS. HOWEVER, THERE HAS BEEN NO RESPONSE FROM THE MANUFACTURER AT THIS TIME. *JB UPDATED 2/7/2006 - *NM

NHTSA ID
10142700
Incident
Aug 9, 2005
Mileage
115,347 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Mar 15, 2004

WHILE DRIVING HOME AT 65 MPH REAR INSIDE PASSENGER TIRE BLEW OUT. MICHELIN, SIZE 255/80R22.5, DOT#V6H6AK30100. *AK

NHTSA ID
10063173
Incident
Mar 15, 2004
Mileage
24,000 mi
Seat belts
Filed Oct 11, 2000

SEAT BELTS ON THE BUSES WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY. HAVE 2 OF THE BUCKLES NEAR THE WINDOWS; 3 LATCH PLATES IN THE MIDDLE & 1 OTHER BUCKLE IS LOCATED IN THE AISLE. CANNOT PLACE ANYONE IN EITHER OF THE SEATS DUE TO NOT HAVING ANYTHING TO LATCH OR BUCKLE INTO. *AK

NHTSA ID
872772
Incident
Aug 29, 2000

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Thomas Bus by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002102—
2001202—
2000Viewing303—
1998101—
1997000—
1995010—
1994020—
1992050—
1991060—
1990070—
1989060—
1988051—
1987020—
1986020—
1985020—
1984010—
1983010—
1982010—
1981010—
1980010—
1977010—

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.