1994 Thomas Minotour recalls

CERTAIN MY 1994 THROUGH 2002 THOMAS BUILT MINOTOUR, FS-65, MVP-EF, ER, AND HDX-EF SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 23, 1994, AND APRIL 15, 2002. THE SEAT BELT MAY CHAFE ON THE EDGE OF A METAL BRACKET AND WEAR PREMATURELY.

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY.

THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPLACE ANY CHAFED SEAT BELTS AND REPLACE OR MODIFY THE RETAINER STRIP TO PREVENT ANY FURTHER CHAFING. THE RECALL BEGAN ON FEBRUARY 8, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 336-889-4871 OR CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 800-547-0712.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON CHEVROLET CHASSIS WITH A CORRUGATED STEEL FLOOR AND AND EQUIPPED WITH 45" WIDE RESTRAINING PASSENGER SEATS. THE 45" WIDE RESTRAINING PASSENGER SEAT FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL TWO ADDITIONAL ANCHORAGE POINTS CONNECTING THE SEAT TO THE FLOOR.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON GM P3 CUTAWAY CHASSIS. THE SCHOOL BUS, WHEN TESTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FMVSS NO. 301, EXCEEDED THE ALLOWABLE FUEL SPILLAGE AS SPECIFIED BY THE STANDARD. THE FUEL TANK WAS PUNCTURED AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT OF THE MOVING BARRIER.

IF A VEHICLE CRASH WERE TO OCCUR, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

GENERAL MOTORS IS WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH THOMAS BUILT IN PROVIDING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY CAMPAIGN FOR THIS RECALL. DEALERS WILL ADD NEW SHIELDING FOR THE FUEL TANK, NEW FILL PIPE AND VENT HOSES; AND, IF REQUIRED, ADD ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS TO SECURE THE SCHOOL BUS BODY TO THE CHASSIS.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES BUILT ON GM P3 CUTAWAY CHASSIS. THE SCHOOL BUS, WHEN TESTED IN ACCORDANCE WITH FMVSS NO. 301, EXCEEDED THE ALLOWABLE FUEL SPILLAGE AS SPECIFIED BY THE STANDARD. THE FUEL TANK WAS PUNCTURED AS A RESULT OF THE IMPACT OF THE MOVING BARRIER.

IF A VEHICLE CRASH WERE TO OCCUR, FUEL LEAKAGE COULD RESULT. IF AN IGNITION SOURCE WERE PRESENT, THIS CONDITION COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

GENERAL MOTORS IS WORKING IN CONJUNCTION WITH CARPENTER, THOMAS BUILT AND U.S. BUS IN PROVIDING THE OWNER NOTIFICATION AND REMEDY CAMPAIGN FOR THIS RECALL. DEALERS WILL INSTALL NEW SHIELDING FOR THE FUEL TANK, NEW FILL PIPE AND VENT HOSES, AND IF REQUIRED, ADD ADDITIONAL ATTACHMENTS TO SECURE THE SCHOOL BUS BODY TO THE CHASSIS.

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.

RETROFLECTIVE MARKINGS ON REQUIRED EMERGENCY EXITS DO NOT MEET THE LOCATION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 217, "BUS WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IF THE RETROFLECTIVE MARKINGS ARE NOT PROPERLY LOCATED AT EMERGENCY EXITS, OCCUPANTS COULD NOT EASILY IDENTIFY SUCH EXITS IN AN EMERGENCY OR ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL INSTALL ADDITIONAL REFLECTIVE TAPE AROUND EACH EMERGENCY DOOR'S OUTSIDE PERIMETER.

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.

SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 210, "SEAT BELT ASSEMBLY ANCHORAGES."

THE SEAT OCCUPANT WOULD SUFFER INCREASED RISK OF INJURY THE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGE FAILED IN A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE SAFETY BELT ANCHORAGES.

THE ROOF HATCHES ON THESE BUSES DO NOT MEET THE EXTERIOR HANDLE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 217, "BUS WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."

CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, RESCUE PERSONNEL MAY NOT BE ABLE TO OPEN THE ROOF HATCHES FROM THE OUTSIDE.

DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE EXISTING ROOF HATCH LID AND REPLACE IT WITH A LID EQUIPPED WITH AN EXTERIOR HANDLE.