2004 Thomas Built Buses HDX problems

What is wrong

Daimler trucks north america (dtna) is recalling 24,650 school and non-school buses, motor home chassis, and trucks manufactured from march 9, 2004 through august 18, 2006, equipped with epa04 certified mbe900 engines, manufactured by detroit diesel between march 1, 2004, and july 31, 2006. The high pressure fuel lines and transfer tubes may fatigue and fracture.

Risk

A fractured fuel line may leak diesel fuel possibly resulting in a fire or fuel may be spilled on the road causing a slippery surface, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash.

Remedy

Detroit diesel will notify owners and the vehicles will be repaired with more robust lines and vibration dampers free of charge. Repairs will be performed by authorized detroit diesel distributorships. The recall began on march 9, 2009. Owners may contact detroit diesel 1‑313‑592‑3708 or dtna toll-free at 1‑800‑547‑0712 for more information.

Recall number 08V668000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Daimler trucks is recalling 18,198 my 2003-2009 thomas built er, mvp-er, hdx, and mvp-ef school and transit buses equipped with a dual power switch and manufactured from february 1, 2002 through october 17, 2008. Solid state circuit breakers may trip unnecessarily potentially resulting in a loss of power to the bus chassis and body electrical circuits causing an unexpected loss of engine power and exterior lighting.

Risk

Unexpected loss of engine power and exterior lighting could result in a vehicle crash.

Remedy

Thomas built bus dealers will replace the solid state dual power switch with a mechanical circuit production (mega fuse). The recall is expected to begin during april 2009. Owners may contact thomas built at 1‑336‑889‑4871.

Recall number 08V622000 · Recall details

What is wrong

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.

Risk

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.

Recall number 08V087000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Daimler trucks is recalling 760 my 2003-2007 thomas built school buses manufactured between july 6, 2005 and july 19, 2006, equipped with braun wheelchair lifts, models nl, ncl, or nvl. The threshold warning systems of the subject model wheelchair lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, platform lift systems for motor vehicles.

Risk

Should the threshold warning system fail to operate, the lift user can fall from the vehicle and be seriously injured.

Remedy

Daimler trucks will notify owners and provide a free remedy which will be performed by thomas built dealerships. The recall began on august 8, 2008. Owners may contact thomas built at 336‑889‑4871.

Recall number 08V088000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain 2001 through 2008 thomas built fs-56, er, mvp er, hdx, and mvp ef school buses manufactured from october 23, 2000, through january 24, 2006, equipped with tyco pc board and type ii auto reset circuit breakers. Type ii auto reset circuit breaker temperatures may exceed the rating of the tyco pc board causing the boards to melt potentially resulting in a vehicle fire.

Risk

A vehicle fire can occur possibly resulting in a crash.

Remedy

Thomas built will notify owners and repair the buses by replacing the type ii auto reset circuit breakers with manual circuit breakers, and the jumper cable. The recall began on march 28, 2008. Owners may contact thomas built customer support office at 336‑889‑4871.

Recall number 07V544000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain my 2004-2007 thomas built minotour, fs65, mvp-ef, and hdx model school buses, manufactured between june 16 and july 1, 2005, equipped with ricon wheelchair lifts. Cracks in the lift arms may allow the mechanism to twist during stowage, preventing closure of the safety interlock switches.

Risk

In the event this condition occurs during passenger operations it may not be possible to close the lift door causing the vehicle interlocks to remain engaged preventing movement of the vehicle or the ability to load or unload passengers with disabilities from the vehicle.

Remedy

Ricon is conducting this recall (please see 06e008000) and will replace the two vertical arms even if only one arm is cracked free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on may 30, 2006. Owners may contact ricon customer support dept. At 800‑322‑2884 or owners may contact thomas bus customer support office at 336‑889‑4871.

Recall number 06V150000 · Recall details

What is wrong

Certain my 2004 through 2006 thomas built hdx, ef, and fs-65 school buses manufactured between october 4, 2004, and february 14, 2006. The body power distribution module (pdm) was manufactured with copper circuits that are too thin for the electrical loads encountered, possibly causing the board to overheat.

Risk

If the pdm overheats it may generate smoke and could result in a fire.

Remedy

Thomas built will notify owners and will replace the pdm's thin copper circuits with thicker copper circuits. The recall began on june 30, 2006. Owners may contact thomas built at 1‑877‑660‑4938.

Recall number 06V136000 · Recall details

This investigation was opened based on four allegations of school bus fires in the power distribution module (pdm) area of the subject buses.during the investigation, odi learned thatbuses built between october 4, 2004 and february 14, 2006 were equipped with pdm?s manufactured with copper circuits that were too thin for the electrical loads encountered, creatingoverheating and thermal events.also, it was determined that multiple thermal breakers, clustered together on the pdm, together with heat generated from the pdm can generate enough heat to melt the pdm.on april 21, 2006, freightliner filed a safety recall to address this issue.freightliner's remedy is to replace all the original (thin copper circuit) pdm?s with new improved pdm?s having thicker copper circuits.also, freightliner will replace the thermal breakers with non-thermal breaker or fuses. The recall action taken by freightliner resolves the issues raised by this investigation.this investigation is closed.

PE06012