Thomas SCHOOL BUS problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
14 owner complaints analyzed
22 distinct recall campaigns
47,050 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1977 to 2011 model years. Data snapshot: . 8 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Seats is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 14 complaints (35.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 3 | 21.4% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 7.1% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Seats | 5 |
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
| Service Brakes | 1 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 1 |
| Structure:Body | 1 |
Seats: 5; Electrical System: 2; Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1; Service Brakes: 1; Service Brakes, Air: 1; Structure:Body: 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 | 0 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 2 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 0 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 2; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0
25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (5). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2002 | 3 |
| 2004 | 2 |
| 2006 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 5 |
| 2019 | 1 |
2002: 3; 2004: 2; 2006: 1; 2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2014: 5; 2019: 1
Pattern summary
Seats leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Steering behavior 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 10064710 · 2004-03-23 (March 23, 2004)
WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH VEHICLE SHUT OFF. THIS RESULTED IN LOSS OF STEERING CAPABILITY AND POWER BRAKING. AFTER BEING SERVICED TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE PROBLEM. *AK
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10064710 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10161795 · 2006-07-07 (July 7, 2006)
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE INSPECTING THE VEHICLE IT WAS DETERMINED THE LEFT FRONT AIR BRAKE CHAMBER MOUNT CAM ASSEMBLY FRACTURED. THIS OCCURRED ON TWO OCCASIONS. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND BOTH FRONT AIR BRAKE CHAMBER MOUNTS WERE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER OF THE AIR BRAKE CHAMBER IS EATON - ROCKWELL CORPORATION AND THIS WAS ORIGINAL MANUFACTURER EQUIPMENT.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10161795 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10545001 · 2013-09-23 (September 23, 2013)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 THOMAS SCHOOL BUS BODY EQUIPPED WITH AN INTERNATIONAL CHASSIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND WITHIN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE HAD BECOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10545001 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10486190 · 2012-11-27 (November 27, 2012)
BUS WAS IN SERVICE AND ON ROUTE WITH STUDENTS ON BOARD. BUS INTERIOR STARTED FILLING WITH SMOKE. DRIVER PULLED OVER AND DID AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION OF STUDENTS. SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATION REVEALED THE A/C 24 VOLT ALT HAD FULL FIELDED AND CAUSED THE WIRING TO COMPLETELY MELT THE SHEATHING ON THE ALT POWER WIRE. BACKFEED THROUGH THE SYSTEM CAUSED THE CONTROLLER TO BURN UP INSIDE THE BUS. CARRIER HAS TOLD US THEY KNOW OF THIS PROBLEM AND THEY HAVE A FIX FOR IT. THIS IS ONE OF AT LEAST 10 WE HAVE HAD HAPPEN. SOMETIME IT BURNS UP THE CONDENSER MOTORS…
Owner-reported narrative. 72,354 miles reported. Look up ODI 10486190 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 |
|---|---|
| 1995 | 2 |
| 1996 | 2 |
| 1999 | 0 |
| 2002 | 0 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2009 | 0 |
| 2010 | 0 |
| 2011 | 0 |
1995: 2; 1996: 2; 1999: 0; 2002: 0; 2004: 1; 2009: 0; 2010: 0; 2011: 0
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 0 | 3 | Not available |
| 1978 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1979 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
| 1980 | 0 | 4 | +1 |
| 1981 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1982 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1983 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1984 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1985 | 0 | 6 | +2 |
| 1986 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 1987 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| 1988 | 0 | 8 | +2 |
| 1989 | 0 | 9 | +1 |
| 1990 | 0 | 12 | +3 |
| 1991 | 0 | 11 | -1 |
| 1992 | 0 | 10 | -1 |
| 1993 | 0 | 4 | -6 |
| 1994 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1995 | 0 | 2 | -2 |
| 1996 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 1999 | 3 | 0 | Not available |
| 2002 | 2 | 0 | Not available |
| 2004 | 1 | 1 | Not available |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | Not available |
| 2010 | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| 2011 | 2 | 0 | 0 |