1998 Thomas MVP ER: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2000-08-07 (August 7, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: HEAVY DUTY TRUCKS AND SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS BUILT WITH BENDIX AIR ABS WITH AN EC-17 1030R ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU), THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSED BY 1) CHAFED ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRES ON ROTATING PARTS OR 2) A DAMAGED COMPONENT AT THE WHEEL END THAT GENERATES A CERTAIN TYPE OF ERRATIC SENSOR SIGNAL.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ABS ECU TO EXHAUST THE AIR AT THE AIR BRAKE MODULATORS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE WHEELS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.

Reported: 2000-08-07 (August 7, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS AND EMERGENCY VEHICLES BUILT WITH BENDIX AIR ABS WITH AN EC-17 1030R ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT (ECU), THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF UNWANTED ABS ACTIVATION AT LOW SPEEDS CAUSED BY 1) CHAFED ABS WHEEL SPEED SENSOR WIRES ON ROTATING PARTS OR 2) A DAMAGED COMPONENT AT THE WHEEL END THAT GENERATES A CERTAIN TYPE OF ERRATIC SENSOR SIGNAL.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE ABS ECU TO EXHAUST THE AIR AT THE AIR BRAKE MODULATORS FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE WHEELS. THIS COULD RESULT IN EXTENDED BRAKING DISTANCES AND A POSSIBLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.

Reported: 2000-11-03 (November 3, 2000)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH NATIONAL SEATING'S SERIES 93B-SB DRIVER SEAT. A BRACKET ATTACHING THE GAS SPRING SHOCK TO THE HEIGHT ADJUSTER OF THE SEAT CAN DEFORM AND BREAK. THIS BRACKET IS LOCATED AT THE TOP OF THE HEIGHT ADJUSTER.

Consequence: IF THE BRACKET IS NOT REPLACED AFTER DEFORMING, AND IS ALLOWED TO BREAK, ITS BREAKING WILL RESULT IN A SUDDEN DROP OF THE DRIVER'S SEAT, INCREASING THE RISK OF LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE SEAT BASE AND ADD REINFORCEMENT TO THE SEAT ASSEMBLY

Reported: 2002-03-20 (March 20, 2002)

ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES, MISALIGNMENT OF THE FAN DRIVE SYSTEM COMPONENTS CAN CAUSE PREMATURE BELT AND PULLEY BEARING WEAR.

Consequence: IF THE SCHOOL BUS IS DISABLED BY A COOLING SYSTEM FAILURE AND IS STALLED ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, AN INCREASED RISK OF A CRASH RESULTING IN INJURY TO A SCHOOL BUS OCCUPANT COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FAN BELT, IDLER PULLEY, AND BELT TENSIONER AND THE PULLEY'S LASER WILL BE ALIGNED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 10, 2002. 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.

Reported: 2005-04-27 (April 27, 2005)

CERTAIN 1998-2003 MY FREIGHTLINER FS-65 SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS AND MB-45, MB-55, AND XB SHUTTLE BUS CHASSIS, AND THOMAS BUILT BUS: MVP-ER AND MVP-EF SCHOOL BUS AND NON-SCHOOL BUS MODELS EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB DIESEL ENGINES AND EQUIPPED WITH FEDERAL-MOGAL 12 AND 24 VOLT FUEL LIFT PUMPS. THE FUEL PUMP COULD FAIL TO TRANSFER FUEL APPROPRIATELY CREATING AN ENGINE STALL CONDITION.

Consequence: SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE, A POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: CUMMINS WILL NOTIFY THE CUSTOMERS OF FREIGHTLINER AND THOMAS BUILT AND REPLACE THE FUEL LIFT PUMP FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-DIESELS.

Reported: 2008-02-26 (February 26, 2008)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 243,435 MY 1995-2008 THOMAS BUILT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 1994, AND MARCH 10, 2008. (ADDITIONAL BUSES HAVE BEEN ADDED TO THIS RECALL CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT NO. 4) THE EMERGENCY EXIT DOOR HANDLE BEGINS CORRODING AROUND THE SECURING ROLL PIN AND SQUARE DRIVE MECHANISM CAUSING THE PROTECTIVE FINISH TO CHIP AND FLAKE. CONTINUED CORROSION AND PITTING WEAKENS THE HANDLE. HANDLES WEAKENED BY CORROSION MAY BREAK WHILE TRYING TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE EXTERIOR.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, A PERSON ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE BUS MAY BREAK THE DOOR HANDLE TRYING TO OPEN THE EMERGENCY EXIT POTENTIALLY DELAYING EVACUATION AND INCREASING THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE VEHICLE'S OCCUPANTS.

Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND WILL REPLACE THE HANDLES WITH A MORE ROBUST HANDLE FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY THOMAS BUILT BUSES DEALERSHIPS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 18, 2008, AND NOTIFICATION FOR THE REVISED POPULATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT APRIL 29, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 336-889-4871.

Reported: 2008-07-30 (July 30, 2008)

DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 3,773 MY 1996 THROUGH 2002 THOMAS BUILT MVP ER SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 8, 1995 THROUGH FEBRUARY 16, 2001, EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR 3116 AND 3126 ENGINES. UN-FUSED POWER CABLES WERE TIE-WRAPPED TO A WIRE BRAID ENGINE FUEL RETURN HOSE. OVER TIME THESE CABLES MAY CHAFE, WEARING THROUGH THE WIRE LOOM AND EVENTUALLY THROUGH THE CABLE INSULATION AND FUEL LINE COVERING IN AN AREA NOT EASILY DETECTABLE DURING NORMAL MAINTENANCE WITHOUT REMOVING THE TIE WRAPS AND OPENING THE WIRE LOOM. UN-FUSED AND UN-SWITCHED POWER CABLES WHICH WEAR THROUGH AND CONTACT THE FUEL LINE WIRE BRAID MAY SHORT CIRCUIT.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A SHORT CIRCUIT, A VEHICLE FIRE CAN OCCUR.

Remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND INSPECT AND REPLACE THE CABLES AS NECESSARY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 28, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-336-889-4871.