1994 Thomas VISTA: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 1994-09-07 (September 7, 1994)

RETROFLECTIVE MARKINGS ON REQUIRED EMERGENCY EXITS DO NOT MEET THE LOCATION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 217, "BUS WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE RETROFLECTIVE MARKINGS ARE NOT PROPERLY LOCATED AT EMERGENCY EXITS, OCCUPANTS COULD NOT EASILY IDENTIFY SUCH EXITS IN AN EMERGENCY OR ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL REFLECTIVE TAPE AROUND EACH EMERGENCY DOOR'S OUTSIDE PERIMETER.

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: 1995-03-03 (March 3, 1995)

IF PAPER OR TRASH FALLS DOWN THE RED DOT HEATER VENTS IT COULD IGNITE.

Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE A HEATER FIRE AND AN INCREASED POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A WIRE CAGE AROUND THE HEATER RESISTOR.

Reported: 1995-03-03 (March 3, 1995)

THE BRACKET USED TO SUPPORT THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE CAN CRACK AND POSSIBLY SEVER THE BRAKE LINE.

Consequence: IF THE BRAKE LINE IS SEVERED, BRAKING CAPABILITY WILL BE IMMEDIATELY REDUCED, INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINE.

Reported: 1995-03-03 (March 3, 1995)

THE AIR CONDITIONING HOSE COVERS DO NOT MEET THE HEAD IMPACT REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 222, "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION."

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY IN A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REROUTE THE COVER FROM THE HEAD IMPACT ZONE AND ALSO REPLACE THE METAL COVER WITH A PLASTIC COVER.

Reported: 1995-05-01 (May 1, 1995)

THE ROOF HATCHES ON THESE BUSES DO NOT MEET THE EXTERIOR HANDLE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 217, "BUS WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."

Consequence: CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, RESCUE PERSONNEL MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE ROOF HATCHES FROM THE OUTSIDE.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING ROOF HATCH LID AND REPLACE IT WITH A LID EQUIPPED WITH AN EXTERIOR HANDLE.

Reported: 1996-06-17 (June 17, 1996)

AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD, SUCH AS A LONG DRAWSTRING, SASH, OR BACKPACK/BOOKBAG ACCESSORY CAN BECOME CAUGHT IN A SMALL OPENING AT THE FLOOR LEVEL OF THE FORWARD DOOR POST.

Consequence: A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING COULD BECOME CAUGHT IN THE SMALL OPENING AND IF THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: A FILLER PLATE WILL BE ATTACHED ON THOMAS CONVENTIONALS OR A PIECE OF RUBBER TRIM ON THOMAS VISTAS TO THE FORWARD DOOR POST AT THE FLOOR LEVEL TO COVER THE OPENING AND ELIMINATE THE POSSIBILITY OF SNAGGING.

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: 1998-12-07 (December 7, 1998)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON A NAVISTAR CHASSIS. THE CROSS VIEW MIRRORS DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 111, "REARVIEW MIRRORS." THE ENTIRE TOP SURFACE OF CYLINDER H IS NOT VISIBLE AS REQUIRED.

Consequence: A DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE BUS INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY TO PERSONS NEAR THE BUS.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH A REPAIR KIT AND DETAILED INSTRUCTIONS. IF AN OWNER SO DESIRES, THOMAS BUILT DEALERS CAN PERFORM THE REPAIR FOR THEM.