2006 Thomas Built Buses C2: complaints, problems and recalls

DT*: THE CONTACT STATED THE LOCATION OF THE EXTERNAL MIRRORS CREATED A BLIND SPOT ON BOTH SIDES OF THE BUS AND ALSO THE INTERIOR MIRROR VIBRATED EXCESSIVELY WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT ALERTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SEEN BY A DEALER.

Owner-reported narrative. 16,450 miles reported. Look up ODI 10171629 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2006-03-28 (March 28, 2006)

CERTAIN MY 2004-2006 FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS B2 SCHOOL BUSES AND THOMAS BUILT C2 SCHOOL BUSES BUILT WITH AIR OR HYDRAULIC BRAKES WITH A ONE VALVE PARK BRAKE SYSTEM AND PARK BRAKE RELEASE INTERLOCK MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 17, 2004, AND FEBRUARY 20, 2006. AT HIGHER VEHICLE LOADS, THE PARKING BRAKES MAY NOT FULLY APPLY.

Consequence: A BUS MAY ROLL IF THE DRIVER RELEASES THE SERVICE BRAKES BEFORE THE PARKING BRAKES FULLY APPLY, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH OR INJURE PASSENGERS ENTERING OR LEAVING THE BUS.

Remedy: FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE PARK BRAKE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 12, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Reported: 2006-12-29 (December 29, 2006)

CERTAIN THOMAS BUILT 2006 AND 2007 C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 21, 2005, AND SEPTEMBER 4, 2006. THE STOP ARM MAY NOT DEPLOY.

Consequence: A NON-DEPLOYING STOP ARM MAY ENCOURAGE MOTORISTS TO PASS THE SCHOOL BUS DURING PICK-UP OR DISCHARGE OF CHILDREN, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY.

Remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL WILL BEGIN ON MARCH 29, 2007. OWNERS MAY CALL THOMAS BUILT AT 336-889-4871 OR OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 800-547-0712.

Reported: 2007-01-04 (January 4, 2007)

CERTAIN THOMAS BUILT 2006 AND 2007 C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 21, 2005, AND SEPTEMBER 4, 2006. THE INLET AIR FITTING WELDED TO THE BASE PLATE WAS MANUFACTURED INCONSISTENTLY, POSSIBLY ALLOWING THE FITTING TO SEPARATE. SEPARATION OF THE INLET FITTING WILL PREVENT THE ACTUATING AIR FROM POWERING THE CROSSING ARM AND MAY NOT DEPLOY.

Consequence: A NON-DEPLOYING CROSSING ARM ALLOWS SOME STUDENT PASSENGERS TO NOT BE VISIBLE TO THE DRIVER AS THEY CROSS IN FRONT OF THE BUS DURING PICK-UP OR DISCHARGE, PRESENT A RISK TO THEM.

Remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 28, 2007. OWNERS MAY CALL THOMAS BUILT AT 336-889-4871 OR CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 800-547-0712.

Reported: 2007-03-23 (March 23, 2007)

CERTAIN MY 2006 AND 2007 THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR, FS-65, C2, HDX, AND EF SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 6 AND SEPTEMBER 6, 2006, EQUIPPED WITH RICON WHEELCHAIR PLATFORM LIFT MODELS S2003, S2005, S2010, S5503, S5505, S5510, K2003, K2005, K2010, K5503, K5505, K5510. THE LIFTS INTERLOCK SWITCH SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER (EITHER WHEELCHAIR OR STANDEE) ON THE PLATFORM LIFT WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, PLATFORM LIFT SYSTEMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Consequence: THE DEFECT INVOLVES THE INTERLOCK SWITCH SYSTEM IN THE LIFT NOT DETECTING THE PRESENCE OF A PASSENGER (EITHER WHEELCHAIR OR STANDEE) ON THE RICON WHEELCHAIR PLATFORM LIFT. IN THE EVENT THIS CONDITION OCCURS DURING PASSENGER OPERATIONS IT MAY BE POSSIBLE FOR THE WHEELCHAIR TO TIP BACKWARDS ONTO THE PLATFORM WHEN THE PLATFORM WAS LOWERED. THIS COULD RESULT IN INJURY TO THE WHEELCHAIR'S OCCUPANT. ALSO, ANYONE STANDING ON THE PLATFORM COULD LOSE HIS OR HER BALANCE AND FALL, RESULTING IN INJURY.

Remedy: FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL REPAIR THE AFFECTED BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON AUGUST 6, 2007. OWNERS CAN CONTACT FREIGHTLINER'S CUSTOMER ASSISTANCE CENTER AT 800-385-4357 OR CONTACT RICON AT 800-322-2884.

Reported: 2008-08-25 (August 25, 2008)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 1,419 MY 2006 THROUGH 2008 THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 7, 2005 AND MAY 27, 2008, EQUIPPED WITH RICON PLATFORM STYLE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THESE BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.

Consequence: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: THOMAS BUILT IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS FREE OF CHARGE (PLEASE SEE 07E095). THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR THOMAS BUILT 1-336-889-4871.

Reported: 2008-08-25 (August 25, 2008)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 2,250 MY 2006 AND 2007 THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR, FS65, C2, HDX, AND MVP EF SCHOOL BUSES AND RECREATIONAL VEHICLE CHASSIS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MARCH 9, 2005 AND FEBRUARY 23, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH RICON S OR K SERIES WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE ANTI-STOW INTERLOCK MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER. THE PRESSURE SENSING SWITCH THAT DETECTS THE PRESENCE OF WEIGHT ON THE PLATFORM WAS NOT ADJUSTED TO THE NECESSARY SENSITIVITY LEVEL. THE LIFT COULD STOW EVEN THOUGH SOMEONE OR SOMETHING IS STILL ON THE LIFT WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES."

Consequence: A LIFT OCCUPANT CAN BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT BEGIN TO STOW UNINTENTIONALLY.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS WORKING WITH RICON TO CORRECT THE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS (PLEASE SEE 07E097). THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 26, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-800-322-2884 OR THOMAS BUILT AT 1-336-889-4871.