RoadVitals

1996 Thomas Mvp Er

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.
4
Latest Jul 30, 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 1996 Thomas Mvp Er. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 2 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

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
08V356000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Jul 30, 2008
3,773 units potentially affected
The defect: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 3,773 MY 1996 THROUGH 2002 THOMAS BUILT MVP ER SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 8, 1995 THROUGH FEBRUARY 16, 2001, EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR 3116 AND 3126 ENGINES. UN-FUSED POWER CABLES WERE TIE-WRAPPED TO A WIRE BRAID ENGINE FUEL RETURN HOSE. OVER TIME THESE CABLES MAY CHAFE, WEARING THROUGH THE WIRE LOOM AND EVENTUALLY THROUGH THE CABLE INSULATION AND FUEL LINE COVERING IN AN AREA NOT EASILY DETECTABLE DURING NORMAL MAINTENANCE WITHOUT REMOVING THE TIE WRAPS AND OPENING THE WIRE LOOM. UN-FUSED AND UN-SWITCHED POWER CABLES WHICH WEAR THROUGH AND CONTACT THE FUEL LINE WIRE BRAID MAY SHORT CIRCUIT.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A SHORT CIRCUIT, A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.
The remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND INSPECT AND REPLACE THE CABLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-336-889-4871.
DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICAManufacturer number FL-534View 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
02V085000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Mar 20, 2002
4,800 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES, MISALIGNMENT OF THE FAN DRIVE SYSTEM COMPONENTS CAN CAUSE PREMATURE BELT AND PULLEY BEARING WEAR.
The risk: IF THE SCHOOL BUS IS DISABLED BY A COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE AND IS STALLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY TO A SCHOOL BUS OCCUPANT COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN BELT, IDLER PULLEY, AND BELT TENSIONER AND THE PULLEY'S LASER WILL BE ALIGNED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 10, 2002. 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 FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
FREIGHTLINER CORPORATIONManufacturer number VON 49View on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

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

PE02023ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

FAN DRIVE UPDATE

Opened Feb 12, 2002
Closed Mar 25, 2002

IN OCTOBER 2001, THOMAS BUILT BUSES SENT OUT A VEHICLE OWNER NOTIFICATION (VON) TO BUS OWNERS OUTLINING PROCEDURES FOR THE PROPER ALIGNMENT AND REPLACEMENT OF THE ENGINE'S FAN DRIVE COMPONENTS.DIRECTIONS IN THE COMMUNICATION REQUIRE THAT THE IDLER PULLEY, BELT TENSIONER, AND THE FAN BELT WILL NEED TO BE REPLACED.PRESUMABLY, THIS ACTION WAS BEING RECOMMENDED TO ELIMINATE FAN BELT SEPARATIONS WHILE THE BUSES ARE IN SERVICE.A FAN BELT SEPARATION WOULD RESULT IN THE NGINE OVERHEATING AND ULTIMATELY STALLING.AS A RESULT OF THIS ACTION, ODI CONTACTED TWO FLEETS AND DETERMINED THAT THEY HAD SUFFERED DISABLED BUSES ON THE SHOULDER OF THE ROAD AS A RESULT OF A FAN BELT FAILURE.ON FEBRUARY 12, 2001, ODI OPENED THIE PRELIMINARY EVALUATION TO UNDERSTAND THE EXTENT OF THE FAILURES AND THE RATIONALE FOR CONDUCTING AN OWNER NOTIFICATION PROGRAM IN LIEU OF A SAFETY RECALL CAMPAIGN.ON MARCH 15, 2002, THOMAS BUILT FILED A DEFECT REPORT OUTLINING THEIR PLANS TO CONDUCT A SAFETY RECALL TO NOTIFY THE REMAINING OWNERS AND REMEDY THE AFFECTED SCHOOL BUSES.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLINGLed to recall 02V085000

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.

9833

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

CONCERNS WITH THE FRONT ENTRACE DOOR SEAL AT HEADER. *TT

9814

SEATS

SUBJECT REGARDING FLIP SEAT CORNER COVERS, UNDERSEAT. *TT

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 Mvp Er by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008032—
2007032—
2006032—
2005052—
2004063—
2003084—
2002094—
20011125—
20000123—
1999092—
1998072—
1997061—
1996Viewing041—

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.