1993 Thomas SAF-T-LINER: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 1993-01-01 (January 1, 1993)

THE CURRENT PRODUCTION STATIONARY WINDOW ASSEMBLIES ALLOW THE GLASS TO DISENGAGE FROM THE RUBBER AND/OR FRAME.

Consequence: THE WINDOWS DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 217, "BUS WINDOWRETENTION AND RELEASE."

Remedy: INSTALL TWO RETAINING CLIPS AT EACH NON-COMPLYING WINDOW.

Reported: 1994-08-01 (August 1, 1994)

A SUDDEN HYDRAULIC PRESSURE LOSS DURING HARD TURNS RESULTS IN A MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST. THE PRESSURE LOSS OCCURS WHEN THE HYDRAULICALLY DRIVEN ENGINE COOLING FAN TURNS OFF IN THE TURN.

Consequence: THE DRIVER REACTS TO THE LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST BY OVERSTEERING, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: THE HYDRAULIC CONTROL VALVES WILL BE REPLACED WITH VALVES OF A NEW DESIGN. UNTIL SUCH TIME AS PARTS ARE AVAILABLE, OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO DISCONNECT THE FAN CUTOFF SWITCH SO THAT HYDRAULICALLY DRIVEN FANS WILL RUN FULL TIME, ELIMINATING THE PRESSURE SPIKE.

Reported: 1995-01-11 (January 11, 1995)

THE METAL HOUSING OF THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTORS ON AUTOMATIC LOCKING RETRACTOR/EMERGENCY LOCKING RETRACTOR SAFETY BELTS CAN BECOME DEFORMED PREVENTING EXTENSION AND/OR RETRACTION OF THE BELT.

Consequence: PASSENGERS WOULD BE UNABLE TO EXTEND OR RETRACT THEIR SAFETY BELTS AND WOULD BE AT A RISK OF INJURY IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A HARDENED WASHER WHICH WILL DECREASE THE POSSIBILITY OF DEFORMATION OF THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR. DAMAGED RETRACTORS WILL BE REPLACED.

Reported: 1995-08-07 (August 7, 1995)

THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WILL NOT SHIFT INTO LOW GEAR DUE TO A MISALIGNMENT IN THE PRNDL INDICATOR.

Consequence: PRNDL MISALIGNMENT CAN CAUSE THE DRIVER TO BE UNAWAREOF THE GEAR POSITION INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL CORRECT THE MISALIGNMENT OF THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION.

Reported: 1995-09-25 (September 25, 1995)

SOME TEMPERATURE SENSITIVE TRIGGERS WERE NOT X-RAYED. THESE TRIGGERS COULD CONTAIN INTERNAL VOIDS THAT WOULD MAKE THE TRIGGERS SUSCEPTIBLE TO ADVANCED CREEP CAUSING FALSE ACTIVATION AND VENTING OF THE CNG.

Consequence: VENTING OF THE CNG COULD RESULT IN A FIRE.

Remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL REPLACE THE TYPE III PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE WITH THE NEWER DESIGN "GENERATION 2.5" PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICE.

Reported: 1996-01-29 (January 29, 1996)

CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND THE SUSPENSION BEAM CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE CHAMBER CLAMP BAND.

Consequence: IF THE DAMAGE TO THE CLAMP BAND RESULTED IN BAND BREAKAGE, THE CHAMBER COULD COME APART RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE SERVICE BRAKES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKES WOULD AUTOMATICALLY APPLY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE CHAMBER FOR SIGN OF CONTACT. IF CONTACT IS INDICATED, THE BRAKE CAM SHAFT AND CHAMBER SUPPORT BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED, ELIMINATING THE POSSIBLITY OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND THE SUSPENSION BEAM.

Reported: 1996-07-23 (July 23, 1996)

AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD, SUCH AS A LONG DRAWSTRING, SASH, OR BACKPACK/BOOKBAG ACCESSORY, CAN BECOME CAUGHT IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE SERVICE DOOR AND THE DOOR CONTROL ROD ATTACHING BRACKET.

Consequence: IF AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD WERE TO CATCH ON THIS AREA, AND THE DRIVER WERE TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: A MOLDED COVER WILL BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE MANUALLY OPERATED OUTWARD OPENING ENTRANCE DOOR AND THE DOOR CONTROL ROD ATTACHING BRACKET WHICH WILL ELIMINATE THE OPENING THAT COULD ALLOW AN ITEM OF A CHILD'S CLOTHING TO BECOME SNAGGED.

Reported: 1996-09-05 (September 5, 1996)

AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD, SUCH AS A LONG DRAWSTRING, SASH, OR BACKPACK/BOOKBAG ACCESSORY, CAN BECOME CAUGHT ON THE FATENERS THAT SECURE THE HANDRAIL SUPPORT TO THE HANDRAIL.

Consequence: IF AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD WERE TO CATCH ON THIS AREA, AND THE DRIVER WERE TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: THE EXISTING 1" BOLTS THAT SECURE THE HANDRAIL SUPPORT WILL BE REPLACED WITH 1/2" BOLTS.

Reported: 1997-03-03 (March 3, 1997)

CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND THE SUSPENSION BEAM CAN RESULT IN DAMAGE TO THE BRAKE CHAMBER CLAMP BAND.

Consequence: IF THE DAMAGE TO THE CLAMP BAND RESULTED IN BAND BREAKAGE, THE CHAMBER COULD COME APART RESULTING IN LOSS OF THE SERVICE BRAKES. THE EMERGENCY BRAKES WOULD AUTOMATICALLY APPLY.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE BRAKE CHAMBER FOR SIGNS OF CONTACT. IF CONTACT IS INDICATED, THE BRAKE CAM SHAFT AND CHAMBER SUPPORT BRACKET WILL BE REPLACED, ELIMINATING THE POSSIBILITY OF CONTACT BETWEEN THE BRAKE CHAMBER AND THE SUSPENSION BEAM.

Reported: 1997-08-22 (August 22, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH IN-LINE SIX ENGINE,"S" TYPE FRAME RAILS AND SIDE MOUNTED BATTERY BOX. THE BATTERY CABLE ROUTING ALLOWS THE POSITIVE CABLE TO CHAFE RESULTING IN A POSSIBLE SHORT CIRCUIT OF THE CABLE.

Consequence: IF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURS, IT CAN CAUSE LOSS OF POWER TO THE VEHICLE AND A POSSIBLE VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL PROVIDE OWNERS WITH REPAIR PARTS AND DETAILED REPAIR PROCEDURES TO SECURE THE CABLE TO PREVENT FURTHER DAMAGE. IF THE OWNER SO DESIRES, THOMAS BUILT WILL PERFORM THE REPAIR FOR THEM.