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U.S. public vehicle records

2005 Thomas FS-65: complaints, problems and recalls

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

2 owner complaints analyzed

2 distinct recall campaigns

37,591 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2005 model year. Data snapshot: . 1 complaints include usable failure mileage.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Exterior Lighting is the most frequently named component, appearing in 1 of 2 complaints (50.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Component breakdown

Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.

Exterior Lighting
1
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch
1
Component breakdown data
CategoryCount
Exterior Lighting1
Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch1

Exterior Lighting: 1; Exterior Lighting:Turn Signal:Switch: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000
0
25,000 to 49,999
1
50,000 to 74,999
0
75,000 to 99,999
0
100,000 to 149,999
0
150,000 and above
0
Reported problems by failure mileage data
CategoryCount
Under 25,0000
25,000 to 49,9991
50,000 to 74,9990
75,000 to 99,9990
100,000 to 149,9990
150,000 and above0

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 1 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.

2006
1
2008
1
Complaints over time data
CategoryCount
20061
20081

2006: 1; 2008: 1

Pattern summary

Exterior Lighting leads the component reports. 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.

Examples from the source records

Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.

Owner report 10149848 · 2006-02-09 (February 9, 2006)

I WRITING IN RESPONSE TO A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS, SB 54-26. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN COVERS AN ISSUE WITH THE TURN SIGNAL CANCELLATION RING ON A 2005 MODEL THOMAS SCHOOL BUS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED THE PART WHICH CANCELS THE TURN SIGNAL AFTER A TURN IS COMPLETED. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS PART WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES TO SIGNAL WHEN MAKING A TURN, AS IS INDICATED IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ANY INFORMATION ON THIS DEFECT UNTIL MY 19 SCHOOL BUSES …

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10149848 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10226620 · 2008-05-05 (May 5, 2008)

LED LIGHT STARTED SMOKING AND BURNED UP EMITTING SMOKE INSIDE THE BUS. THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS TYPE OF LIGHT. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 37,591 miles reported. Look up ODI 10226620 at NHTSA ↗

Recall history

2 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.

05V426000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic

Reported: 2005-09-20 (September 20, 2005)

CERTAIN FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS FS-65 SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS AND FB-65 SHUTTLE BUS CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C7 ENGINES AND REVISED COOLING PACKAGES AND MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 24, 2004, AND JUNE 15, 2005. THE FRONT HYDRAULIC LINE MAY RUB THROUGH ON A RADIATOR TUBE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID TO THE FRONT BRAKES.

Consequence: THE DEFECT MAY CAUSE THE LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES AND POSSIBLY A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: FREIGHTLINER AND THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL INSPECT AND SECURE THE BRAKE LINE TO PROVIDE MORE CLEARANCE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 20, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

NHTSA campaign record ↗
05V467000 · Suspension:Rear:Axle:Spindle

Reported: 2005-10-05 (October 5, 2005)

CERTAIN 2005 THOMAS BUILT FS-65 AND C-2 SCHOOL BUSES AND 2005 FREIGHTLINER ARGOSY, COLUMBIA, CENTURY ST, AND M2 BUSINESS CLASS TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 4 AND JULY 8, 2005. THE SPINDLES IN THE REAR AXLE HOUSING WERE OVERHEATED DURING THE HEAT TREATMENT PROCESS. INCORRECTLY HEAT TREATED SPINDLES COULD RESULT IN A FRACTURE OF THE SPINDLE.

Consequence: INCORRECTLY HEAT TREATED SPINDLES COULD FRACTURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Remedy: FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSPECT FOR THE HEAT TREAT DATE CODE ON THE END OF THE REAR SPINDLES AND REPLACE THE AXLE HOUSING IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON JANUARY 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER

NHTSA campaign record ↗