Recall 97V-117: 1977–1996 Thomas Minotour
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. recall for structure, reported to NHTSA on Jul 25, 1997, covering about 8,187 vehicles.
The problem
Vehicle description: school buses equipped with manually operated outward opening entrance doors. An item worn by a child, such as a long drawstring, sash, or backpack/bookbag accessory, can becomecaught in the area between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket.
The risk
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 in serious injury or death.
The fix
These buses were originally included in recall campaign 96v-139. However, the repair did not eliminate the potential snagging point between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket. Therefore, owners are being renotified to inspect the orientation of the door control. If the door control does not match the orientation described in the renotification letter, the owner will be instructed to remove the existing control and the original recall repair part, reoirient the door control, and reinstall the recall repair part.
Notes
Owner notification began october 6, 1997.owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact thomas built at 1-910-889-4871.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.
Recall details
| Manufacturer | THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. |
|---|---|
| Component | Structure › Body |
| Recall started by | the manufacturer |
| NHTSA campaign number | 97V117000 |
Vehicles in this recall
| Vehicle | Model years | |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Minotour | 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 | All years |
Not every vehicle of these model years is included. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls ↗ or ask a dealer.
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 97V-117?
Vehicle description: school buses equipped with manually operated outward opening entrance doors. An item worn by a child, such as a long drawstring, sash, or backpack/bookbag accessory, can becomecaught in the area between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket.
How is recall 97V-117 fixed?
These buses were originally included in recall campaign 96v-139. However, the repair did not eliminate the potential snagging point between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket. Therefore, owners are being renotified to inspect the orientation of the door control. If the door control does not match the orientation described in the renotification letter, the owner will be instructed to remove the existing control and the original recall repair part, reoirient the door control, and reinstall the recall repair part.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Check whether your vehicle is included with its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.