Thomas Built Buses Saf-t-liner C2 2003

Model Saf-t-liner C2 made in 2003 by Thomas Built Buses got 5 consumer complains, 1 investigation there are 3 recalls as well as 8 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference to fuel system, gasoline. . Technical service bulletines regarding engine and engine cooling, equipment and fuel system, other. The car had one investigation (structure). There were some recalls concerningequipment adaptive, service brakes, air and structure.

Model 2003

Recalls


CampaignManufacturerManufacturing dateType# of units affectedDate Owner notified MfgRecall Initiated byManufacturers of recalled vehicles/productsReport Recieved DateRecord Creation DateRegulation Part NumberFMVSS Number
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE
08V088000DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICAfrom 07/06/2005 to 07/19/2006V (Vehicle)76008/08/2008MFRFREIGHTLINER LLC02/26/200802/27/2008571403
Defect SummaryDaimler 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.
Consequence SummaryShould the threshold warning system fail to operate, the lift user can fall from the vehicle and be seriously injured.
Corrective SummaryDaimler 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.
NotesDaimler trucks recall no. fl-524.customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR - SUPPLY - CHECK VALVE
07V302000FREIGHTLINER LLCfrom 07/01/2002 to 07/03/2007V (Vehicle)7500001/11/2008MFRFREIGHTLINER LLC07/16/200707/16/2007
Defect SummaryCertain 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.
Consequence SummaryThese 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.
Corrective SummaryFreightliner 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.
NotesFreightliner recall no. fl-504.customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
08V087000DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICAfrom 01/01/1994 to 03/10/2008V (Vehicle)24343508/18/2008ODIDAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA02/26/200802/27/2008
Defect SummaryDaimler 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.
Consequence SummaryIn 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.
Corrective SummaryDaimler 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.
NotesDaimler trucks recall no. fl-525.customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Bulletins


BulletinBulletin dateReplacement BulletinItem no.SummaryAdded
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE - DIESEL
SB-49-301/01/200910032678Thomas built: occasionally the amber diesel particulate filter (dpf) status light on the driver message center may come on, indicating that the exhaust soot level is elevated. saf-t-liner cs model. no model years listed. *pe04/28/2010
EQUIPMENT - OTHER - OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
SB-49-301/01/200910032678Thomas built: occasionally the amber diesel particulate filter (dpf) status light on the driver message center may come on, indicating that the exhaust soot level is elevated. saf-t-liner cs model. no model years listed. *pe04/28/2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY
SB-42-201/01/200810032686Thomas built: reservoir internal/external check valve. contamination in the wet/secondary reservoir, p/n 12-15476-00, may cause the inline check valve to become clogged or stuck closed. this can result in insufficient air buildup. no mo04/28/2010
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY - PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
SB-42-201/01/200810032686Thomas built: reservoir internal/external check valve. contamination in the wet/secondary reservoir, p/n 12-15476-00, may cause the inline check valve to become clogged or stuck closed. this can result in insufficient air buildup. no mo04/28/2010
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - DRIVESHAFT
SB-41-102/01/200910028711Thomas built: new tightening procedure has been developed for half round u joint bearing strap capscrews, which should extend u joint life. model years unknown. *pe05/18/2009
POWER TRAIN - DRIVELINE - UNIVERSAL JOINT
SB-41-102/01/200910028711Thomas built: new tightening procedure has been developed for half round u joint bearing strap capscrews, which should extend u joint life. model years unknown. *pe05/18/2009
SUSPENSION - FRONT - WHEEL BEARING
SB-35-0105/01/201110039618Ready08/05/2011
SB-35-0105/01/201110039618Freightliner: the instructions to lubricate the wheel bearings on a rear drive axle. *rm08/05/2011

Investigations


NHTSA IDManufacturerDate openDate closeSubjectRecall campaign
STRUCTURE - BODY - DOOR - HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
PE07054FREIGHTLINER LLC11/09/200703/04/2008EMERGENCY DOOR HANDLE FAILURE08V087000
 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.

Consumer Complaints


Fail datemilesoccurencesPurchase date
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
08/02/201196013
 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.