1980 Thomas Minotour recalls

AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD, SUCH AS A LONG DRAWSTRING, SASH, OR BACKPACK/BOOKBAG ACCESSORY, CAN BECOME CAUGHT IN THE AREA BETWEEN THE SERVICE DOOR AND THE DOOR CONTROL ROD ATTACHING BRACKET.

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 SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

A MOLDED COVER WILL BE INSTALLED BETWEEN THE MANUALLY OPERATED OUTWARD OPENING ENTRANCE DOOR AND THE DOOR CONTROL ROD ATTACHING BRACKET WHICH WILL ELIMINATE THE OPENING THAT COULD ALLOW AN ITEM OF A CHILD'S CLOTHING TO BECOME SNAGGED.

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.

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.

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.

THE GROSS AXLE WEIGHT RATING LISTED ON THE CERTIFICATION PLATE FOR THE FRONT SPRINGS IS INCORRECT. SOME VEHICLES HAVE FRONT SPRINGS RATED AT 2950 LBS. AND PASSENGER CAPACITY AT GREATER THAN 15 PASSENGERS. THIS COMBINATION MAY RESULT IN THE FRONT SPRINGS BEING OVERLOADED BY 150 LBS. WHEN THESE VEHICLES ARE LOADED TO MAXIMUN CAPACITY.

DEALER WILL REPLACE THE FRONT SPRINGS WITH 3100 LB. FRONT SPRINGS AT NO COST TO OWNER.

THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE EMERGENCY EXIT LABELS OF LESS THAN THE TWO INCH HEIGHT REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE".

EACH VEHICLE WILL BE INSPECTED AND CORRECTED BY MAIN PLANT PERSONNEL.

SOME OF THE INVOLVED VEHICLES HAVE BEEN RELEASED WITHOUT THE SEATS BEING PROPERLY FASTENED TO THE FLOOR AND SEAT RAIL OF THE VEHICLE. THIS FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 222, "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION".

VEHICLES WILL BE INSPECTED AND CORRECTED BY MAIN PLANT PERSONNEL AT NO CHARGE TO OWNER.

SOME VEHICLES MAY STILL HAVE A SELECTOR SWITCH FOR AN AUXILIARY FUEL TANK, ALTHOUGH THE TANK ITSELF HAS BEEN REMOVED.

MANUFACTURER WILL REMOVE THE SWITCH AND CORRECT THE FUEL GAUGE WIRING. A FUEL TUBE WILL ALSO BE REPLACED.