Thomas Built Buses C2 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
8 owner complaints analyzed
9 distinct recall campaigns
16,450 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 to 2010 model years. Data snapshot: . 5 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 8 complaints (12.5%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 2 | 25.0% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 12.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 1 | 12.5% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights | 1 |
| Parking Brake | 1 |
| Parking Brake:Conventional:Air | 1 |
| Structure | 1 |
| Unknown Or Other | 1 |
| Visibility | 1 |
| Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices | 1 |
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Exterior Lighting:Brake Lights: 1; Parking Brake: 1; Parking Brake:Conventional:Air: 1; Structure: 1; Unknown Or Other: 1; Visibility: 1; Visibility:Rearview Mirrors/Devices: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 1 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (3). 3 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 1 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
2006: 1; 2007: 1; 2008: 1; 2009: 1; 2010: 1; 2011: 2; 2013: 1
Pattern summary
Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10275227 · 2009-06-29 (June 29, 2009)
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 THOMAS BUILT BUSES SAF-T-LINER C2 BUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE EXTERIOR REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V205000 (PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:AIR) REGARDING THE AIR MANAGE UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10275227 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10394908 · 2011-04-04 (April 4, 2011)
THOMAS C2 - AMU PARK BRAKE SWITCH, 2007-2008 YEAR MODELS PROBLEM: MY OFFICE RECEIVED REPORTS FROM SCDE MAINTENANCE FACILITIES OF CONTINUED FAILURES WITH THE AIR BRAKE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AIR MANAGEMENT UNIT (AMU). THE FAILURE MODE OF CURRENT CONCERN IS WITH THE PARK BRAKE SWITCH IN THE AMU. THIS FAILURE MODE PREVENTS THE RELEASE OF THE PARK BRAKES. THE SCDE OPERATES 879 OF THESE UNITS. CONCERN: WHEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN NO LONGER RELEASE THE PARK BRAKES. SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS ARE TRAINED TO SET THE PARK BRAKES EACH TIME T…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10394908 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10299614 · 2010-01-13 (January 13, 2010)
TRANSMISSION COOLER IN RADIATOR LEAKED CAUSING REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR. ANTI-FREEZE BACK FLUSHED INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING CONTAMINATION AND TRANSMISSION ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOTAL COST $5,751.00 TO A BUS TWO YEARS OLD WITH 30,000 MILES. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 29,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10299614 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10400597 · 2011-05-12 (May 12, 2011)
ON THE MORNING OF MAY 12, 2011 NORTH CAROLINA PUBLIC SCHOOL BUS LOCATED IN EDGECOMBE COUNTY WAS TOTALLY DESTROYED BY A FIRE THAT ORIGINATED IN THE REAR BULKHEAD AREA OF THE BUS THAT HOUSES A CARRIER AIR CONDITIONER AND ADDITIONAL ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS. THE BUS WAS ON ITS ROUTE PICKING UP CHILDREN FOR SCHOOL WHEN THE CHILDREN BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE AND NOTIFIED THE DRIVER. THE DRIVER IMMEDIATELY STOPPED THE BUS AND EVACUATED THE CHILDREN JUST MOMENTS BEFORE FIRE WAS SEEN IN THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT OF THE BUS IN THE REAR BULKHEAD AREA. THE SCHOOL…
Owner-reported narrative. 11,949 miles reported. Look up ODI 10400597 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2006 | 6 |
| 2007 | 6 |
| 2010 | 2 |
2006: 6; 2007: 6; 2010: 2