Underbody cng fuel cylinder(s) were discovered to have been originally installed with insufficient overhead clearance. The forward most cylinder (1 of 5) was mounted with an interference fit against supporting structure. Cylinder wrapping was damaged. Other cylinders on this and similar thomas transit school buses have been found with well under the .5 inch clearance recommended by dot, chp, and the ngv industry. The bus manufacturer declined to address the oem design defect, subsequent cylinder damage, and imminent safety concern, on this school bus due to its being out of standard warranty. Later model year thomas cng transit buses use similar methods of cylinder mounting.
The worst 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Fuel system1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Fuel system1
Recalls 4
Equipment
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, FS65, and Minotour school buses, equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit:
- Risk
- In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 30, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712 or Kidde customer service at 1‑855‑262‑3540 or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-759.
Recall number 18V083000 · Recall details
Structure: body: door: hinge and attachments
- 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
Equipment adaptive/mobility
- 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
Service brakes, air: supply: check valve
- What is wrong
- Certain freightliner school bus chassis, heavy trucks, and thomas built school buses manufactured between july 2002 and july 3, 2007, equipped with bendix sr-7 spring brake control valves. The parker scv brass 90 degree single check valves (scv) which attach to the supply port of a bendix sr-7 spring brake modulating valve can break apart. Pieces of the parker scv can become lodged inside the sr-7 spring brake modulating valve, potentially causing either leakage out of the sr-7 valve or preventing air from properly exhausting from the sr-7 valve. Also, due to a manufacturing defect in the internal rubber check valve inside the sr-7 spring brake modulating valves, the valves can become deformed and not seat properly.
- Risk
- These conditions could either result in leakage and cause a delay in the application of the spring brake without warning or possibly lead to unintended vehicle rollaway or brake drag which could result in a vehicle crash, personal injury, or death.
- Remedy
- Freightliner will notify owners and repair the vehicles free of charge. The recall began on january 11, 2008 to freightliner, sterling, and freightliner custom chassis owners; to thomas built bus owners on february 1, 2008. Owners can contact freightliner at 1‑800‑547‑0712.
Recall number 07V302000 · Recall details
See all 4 recalls for the 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2
Defect investigations
Emergency door handle failure
The office of defects investigation opened this preliminary evaluationafterbecoming aware that fleets were having handle failures on the rear emergency door exit.the failure resulted in the door handle separating from thedoor latch mechanism.when the handle fails, the rear emergency exit door can not be opened from outside the bus.the failure results from corrosion of the exterior door handle around the securing roll pin and square drive latch mechanism, causing the protective finish to chip and flake.continued corrosion weakens the handle and eventually the handle may break while trying to open the exit door.odi was concerned that during an emergency, a person outside of the bus would break the door handle while trying to open the emergency exit door,potentially delaying evacuation of the bus.under the safety recall, the aluminum handles will be replaced with a more robust handle.the recall action resolves the issues raised by this investigation. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.
PE07054
Technical service bulletins for the 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 133
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Revised Technical Service Letter for Series 60 and Series 50 Camshaft Timing Specifications
- Thomas Built Buses Service Bulletin for Axle Flange Gasket Replaced with O-Ring
- Thomas Built Buses Product Awareness Bulletin on RH 3 POS Switch for Electric Operated Entrance Door
- Thomas Built Bus Service Bulletin for When troubleshooting powernet issues, use the BCT-460DTNA PowerNet...
- Thomas Built Buses Product Awareness Bulletin on Lettering Changes
- Thomas Built Buses Product Awareness Bulletin on Axial Mounted Air Disc Brake Caliper for Saf-T-Liner C2
- Thomas Built Buses Product Awareness Bulletin on Hankook DH37 Drive Tire/ Spare Tire
- Thomas Built Buses Product Awareness Bulletin on Heater Hose Changes
- Thomas Built Buses Product Awareness Bulletin on National Driver’s Seat Update
- Thomas Built Buses Product Awareness Bulletin on Jouley Warranty Update
See all 133 bulletins for the 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2
What 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Compare the 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2
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Questions about the 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2
Is the 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 reliable?
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, close to a typical Saf-T-Liner C2 model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2?
Fuel and propulsion system, with 1 complaint.
How many recalls does the 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 have?
4 recalls, covering equipment, structure and equipment adaptive/mobility.
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