NHTSA campaign 97V031000
Thomas Recall 97V-031: THOMAS BUILT/HANDRAILS
- Recall influenced by NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation
NHTSA recall 97V031000 was reported by THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC. on March 5, 1997, with 24,082 vehicles potentially affected (per NHTSA). NHTSA's record lists the Thomas Conventional for model years 1995–1996 (try.vin imports model years 1995 and later). Owners were notified on April 14, 1997, per NHTSA.
Updated daily from NHTSA's recall files
Is my vehicle included?
This page lists, by model year, the vehicles NHTSA's recall record names for campaign 97V031000 in the model years try.vin imports (1995 and later); NHTSA's own record can list more. A model year on the list doesn't mean every vehicle of that year is included, and some may already have been repaired.
To see whether a specific vehicle is included and still needs the repair, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Free VIN check: decode a VIN to see its year, make and model.
Key facts
- NHTSA campaign
- 97V031000 (also written 97V-031 or 97V031)
- Filed by
- THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
- Report received
- Potentially affected
- 24,082 vehicles (per NHTSA)
- Component
- Structure — Body
- Owners notified
Vehicles listed for this recall
NHTSA's recall record lists these vehicles for recall 97V031000. try.vin imports model years 1995 and later, so NHTSA's own list can be longer. Model years with a try.vin recall page link to it. Build dates are NHTSA's range for a model year (per NHTSA); a vehicle built in that range is not necessarily included.
Thomas
All Thomas recallsNHTSA's recall notice
As NHTSA's recall record states it for campaign 97V031000.
Defect description
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH OUTWARD OPENING SERVICE DOORS. THE POSSIBILITY EXISTS FOR AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD, SUCH AS A LONG DRAWSTRING, SASH, OR BACKPACK/BOOKBAG ACCESSORY, CAN BECOME CAUGHT IN A SMALL OPENING AT THE FLOOR LEVEL OF THE FORWARD DOOR POST.
Safety consequence
IF AN ITEM WORN BY A CHILD WERE TO CATCH IN THE OPENING, AND THE DRIVER WERE TO CLOSE THE DOOR AND PUT THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, IT COULD RESULT IN INJURY OR DEATH TO THE CHILD.
Manufacturer remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE FORWARD DOOR POST TO VERIFY THAT THE OPENING IS COMPLETELY ELIMINATED, AND IF NECESSARY, WILL INSTALL SEALANT IN ANY REMAINING PORTION OF THE OPENING.
Notes
OWNER NOTIFICATION:OWNER NOTIFICATION WILL BEGIN APRIL 14, 1997.NOTES: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.
Sources
Official NHTSA notice for recall 97V031000
Campaign details come from NHTSA's recall files, which try.vin imports once a day. The plain-language subject and the completion rate come from the U.S. Department of Transportation's Recalls Data dataset. How try.vin reads recall data.