Dt: the contact states there was an accident on 8/9/05 involving an SUV and a thomas built type c wheel chair bus. The driver of the SUV crossed the center line and hit the bus head on. The estimated speed of the SUV was in excess of 70 MPH at the time of the accident. Upon impact the service door opened and one of the bus occupants was ejected. Two persons in the bus were injured and the driver of the SUV was killed. Both vehicles were totaled as a result of the accident. There was a police report taken at the scene. The door was latched at the time of the accident. Upon inspection there was no visible damage to the latch. The bus manufacturer has been contacted to inspect the service door of the bus. However, there has been no response from the manufacturer at this time. *jb updated 2/7/2006 -
The worst 2000 Thomas Bus problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Locks1
- Seat belts1
- Tires1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Locks1
- Seat belts1
- Tires1
Recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Defect investigations
Restricted brake pedal movement
Odi was contacted by the new york dot who reportedseveral buses failed braking tests when being tested during an annual inspection. The subject school buses are optioned with an adjustable foot pedal positioning device that allows the driver to raise and lower the brake pedal height to suit his/her seating position.when the lowest pedal position is selected (by a button on the dashboard), nydot reported that the brake pedal bottomed out on the floor, thus preventing a full brake pedal application.this resulted in a reduction of brake torque at the wheel ends.freightliner will conduct a safety recall to correct this problem.the remedy calls for a longer pedal push rod being installed in- place of the original push rod. They also increased the population to include the mvp-er model buses.this resolves the issue raised by this investigation. Accordingly, this investigation is closed.
PE07008
School bus lighting failures
See attached four page technical report for details.
EA04014
Headlight switch failures
Odi has received several failed switches that show signs of melting or damage from over- heating.the switch supplier has initiated a test program to determine the cause of these failures.odi is concerned about the presence of a heat source that potentially could lead to an electrical fire, as well as the absence of necessary vehicle lighting.odi will continue its investigation to verify the extent of the problem represented by the reported failures and evaluate the associated risks.
PE04012
What 2000 Thomas Bus owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
While driving home at 65 MPH rear inside passenger tire blew out. Michelin, size 255/80r22.5, dot#v6h6ak30100.
Seat belts on the buses were installed incorrectly. Have 2 of the buckles near the windows; 3 latch plates in the middle & 1 other buckle is located in the aisle. Cannot place anyone in either of the seats due to not having anything to latch or buckle into.
Compare the 2000 Thomas Bus
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Questions about the 2000 Thomas Bus
Is the 2000 Thomas Bus reliable?
Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 2000 Thomas Bus, 1.5 times a typical Bus model year.
What is the most common problem with the 2000 Thomas Bus?
Doors, latches and locks, with 1 complaint. Next is seat belts (1).
How many recalls does the 2000 Thomas Bus have?
No recalls on record.
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