RoadVitals

2001 Thomas Saf-T-Liner Hd

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.
3
Latest Dec 2, 2002
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 2001 Thomas Saf-T-Liner Hd. 3 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

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
02V320000

SUSPENSION:REAR:SPRINGS:AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEM

Dec 2, 2002
122 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH REYCO REAR AXLE AIR SUSPENSIONS, DEFLATED SUSPENSION AIR BAGS COULD CREATE EXCESSIVE DRIVELINE ANGLES CAUSING U-JOINT DAMAGE.
The risk: THE DRIVE SHAFT COULD FALL OFF OF THE BUS. FOLLOWING VEHICLES COULD THEN RUN OVER THIS OBSTACLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF DAMAGE TO THE FOLLOWING VEHICLE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL AXLE STOPS TO LIMIT REAR SUSPENSION TRAVEL AND FASTENER TORQUE WILL BE CHECKED ON THE SUSPENSION HEIGHT CONTROL ROD. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN DURING FEBRUARY 2003. 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 CORPORATIONView on NHTSA.gov
01V104000

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
01V103000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Mar 27, 2001
146 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL CAN POSSIBLY HANG UP ON THE FLOOR RUBBER.
The risk: THE DRIVER WOULD BE EXPECTING THE VEHICLE'S SPEED TO DECREASE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A STAINLESS STEEL PLATE UNDER THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 8, 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

Safety investigations

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

PE07054ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

EMERGENCY DOOR HANDLE FAILURE

Opened Nov 9, 2007
Closed Mar 4, 2008

THE OFFICE OF DEFECTS INVESTIGATION OPENED THIS PRELIMINARY EVALUATIONAFTERBECOMING AWARE THAT FLEETS WERE HAVING HANDLE FAILURES ON THE REAR EMERGENCY DOOR EXIT.THE FAILURE RESULTED IN THE DOOR HANDLE SEPARATING FROM THEDOOR LATCH MECHANISM.WHEN THE HANDLE FAILS, THE REAR EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR CAN NOT BE OPENED FROM OUTSIDE THE BUS.THE FAILURE RESULTS FROM CORROSION OF THE EXTERIOR DOOR HANDLE AROUND THE SECURING ROLL PIN AND SQUARE DRIVE LATCH MECHANISM, CAUSING THE PROTECTIVE FINISH TO CHIP AND FLAKE.CONTINUED CORROSION WEAKENS THE HANDLE AND EVENTUALLY THE HANDLE MAY BREAK WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE EXIT DOOR.ODI WAS CONCERNED THAT DURING AN EMERGENCY, A PERSON OUTSIDE OF THE BUS WOULD BREAK THE DOOR HANDLE WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR,POTENTIALLY DELAYING EVACUATION OF THE BUS.UNDER THE SAFETY RECALL, THE ALUMINUM HANDLES WILL BE REPLACED WITH A MORE ROBUST HANDLE.THE RECALL ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTSLed to recall 08V087000

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.

PS-13-8

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SLACK ADJUSTERS:AUTOMATIC

THOMAS BUILT BUS: ALL MODELS OF THOMAS BUSES USING AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTERS. THE AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTERS ARE ROUTINELY BEING ADJUSTED BY SOME OPERATORS AND SERVICE TECHNICIANS TO MAKE BRAKE PUSHROD STROKE APPEAR TO BE WITH LEGAL BRAKE ADJUSTMENT LIMITS, OR TO COMPENSATE FOR MIS-DIAGNOSED OUT OF ADJUSTMENT CONDITIONS CAUSED BY WORN OR DAMAGED FOUNDATION BRAKE COMPONENTS. *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 Saf-T-Liner Hd by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2001Viewing031—
2000121—

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.