NHTSA vehicle safety data

2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Recalls & Complaints

The 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour has 13 NHTSA recall campaigns and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Thomas Built Buses dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour, describing incidents dated January 4, 2023.

Most-cited components

Power Train 1 complaint

Newest complaints

ODI #11503759 · Filed January 26, 2023
Lost all forward gear. As show in the picture attached of the valve body the number 1 valve body check ball pointed at with the yellow arrow is significantly smaller the the rest of the check balls. This causes the vehical to lose all forward gears and potentialy putting you harms way. This come…

Read the full complaint

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour in 2 investigations. Audit Queries and Equipment Queries are administrative investigations: they look at whether companies complied with federal vehicle safety requirements, such as reporting, recall and certification rules, not at a possible vehicle defect. A listed model year means only that an investigation names it; it says nothing about any particular vehicle. An open investigation is not a finding that a safety defect exists, and NHTSA can close one without a recall.

Preliminary Evaluation PE23-016: 6L90 Transmission Failure
Closed January 10, 2025
Audit Query AQ18-002: Daimler Trucks North America Recalls
Closed July 11, 2024

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

Solenoid Connector to CNG Fuel Tank May Corrode

NHTSA #21V741000 · Electrical System — Wiring — Relays/Solenoids · NHTSA notice

Reported September 23, 2021 · Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 87 vehicles

Repair completion: 59.77% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-903 · Owners notified February 3, 2022

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC. (DTNA) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Thomas Built Minotour school buses. The under-body shut-off solenoid connector that connects to the CNG fuel tank may corrode, which could result in an electrical short.

Safety consequence

A short at the connector may cause a flame or overheating, increasing the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will replace the CNG fuel shut-off solenoid, free of charge. Owner notification letters are were mailed February 03, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA's customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-903.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

Vehicle May Move While Lift Is Deployed/FMVSS 403

NHTSA #20V690000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · NHTSA notice

Reported November 9, 2020 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 615 vehicles

Repair completion: 73.01% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-868 · Owners notified May 19, 2021

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2008-2021 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses. The driver may be able to release the park brake and shift the transmission out of Park and into a drive gear while the wheelchair lift is deployed. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 403, "Platform Lift Systems."

Safety consequence

If the vehicle is put into drive while the wheelchair lift is deployed, the vehicle may move forward or backward, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will have the wheelchair lift wiring modified as needed, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on January 6, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on May 19, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-868.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Insufficient Impact Absorption/FMVSS 222

NHTSA #19V712000 · Seats · NHTSA notice

Reported October 4, 2019 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 53,528 vehicles

Repair completion: 74.85% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-832 · Owners notified June 22, 2020 · Vehicles built July 5, 2013 – August 15, 2019 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner EFX, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner C2, and Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses equipped with SynTec S3B or S3C seats. The seats may have been manufactured with styrene blocks that may not provide sufficient impact absorption in certain specific areas around the steel seat frame of the back support. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."

Safety consequence

The lack of impact absorption increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install additional impact material between the re-bond back and the vinyl back cover to increase the amount of absorption, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on November 29, 2019. The recall began June 22, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-832.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Wheelchair Lift can be used Without Parking Brake

NHTSA #19V170000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · NHTSA notice

Reported March 5, 2019 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 410 vehicles

Repair completion: 13.17% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-811 · Owners notified December 20, 2019 · Vehicles built April 15, 2002 – June 14, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2003-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses built on a Ford chassis equipped with a specific wheelchair lift option. The wheelchair lift can be operated without the parking brake being engaged after they key is turned off.

Safety consequence

When the vehicle is in neutral with the ignition and the parking brake off, the vehicle may move. Using the wheelchair lift during this time can increase the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA has notified owners, and dealers will modify the wheelchair lift wiring harness, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on April 10, 2019. The recall began December 20, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-811.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Emergency Exit not Opening Wide Enough/FMVSS 217

NHTSA #18V698000 · Structure — Emergency — Escape/Egress/Exit · NHTSA notice

Reported October 5, 2018 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 701 vehicles

Repair completion: 94.58% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-797 · Owners notified June 28, 2019 · Vehicles built March 25, 2014 – June 5, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses with 36" or 39" wide seats. The rear emergency exit door may not open wide enough to meet the unobstructed emergency egress area requirements. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."

Safety consequence

If the emergency exit door does not open wide enough, it may limit the ability to exit the bus, increasing the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will modify the rear door slide system, increasing the angle that the door can open, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on November 8, 2018. The recall began June 28, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-797.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Wheelchair Lift can be Used when not in Park

NHTSA #18V301000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · NHTSA notice

Reported May 8, 2018 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 1,688 vehicles

Repair completion: 14.35% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-770 · Owners notified November 15, 2019 · Vehicles built May 18, 2012 – January 9, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses built on a Ford chassis and equipped with an optional wheelchair lift. The wheelchair lift may be allowed to operate when the vehicle is in neutral or drive, due to missing relay in the interlock wiring harness.

Safety consequence

If the vehicle can be moved while the wheelchair lift is being used, there is an increased the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wheelchair lift wiring, correcting it as necessary, free of charge. Daimler issued an interim notification to owners on June 19, 2018. The recall began November 15, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-770.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Seat Mounting Bracket Fracture

NHTSA #18V254000 · Seats · NHTSA notice

Reported April 19, 2018 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 24 vehicles

Repair completion: 70.83% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-769 · Owners notified January 3, 2019 · Vehicles built August 18, 2014 – February 5, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EFX, Saf-T-Liner HDX, and Minotour transit buses, equipped with certain S3B Restraint Wall Mounted Seats. The wall mounting bracket may crack, causing the seat to not remain secured in place in the event of a crash.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the wall, the occupant has an increased risk of an injury.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wall mounting bracket, free of charge. Daimler issued an interim notification to owners on June 15, 20 18. The recall began January 3, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-769.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Seat Mounting Bracket Fracture

NHTSA #18V253000 · Seats · NHTSA notice

Reported April 19, 2018 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 23,102 vehicles

Repair completion: 83.41% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-769 · Owners notified January 3, 2019 · Vehicles built August 18, 2014 – February 5, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Minotour school buses equipped with S3B Restraint Wall Mounted Seats. The wall mounting bracket may crack, causing the seat to not remain secured in place in the event of a crash.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the wall, the occupant has an increased risk of an injury.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wall mounting bracket, free of charge. Daimler issued owners an interim notification on June 12, 2018. The recall began January 3, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-769.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Seats may Come Loose in a Crash

NHTSA #18V193000 · Seats · NHTSA notice

Reported March 26, 2018 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 6 vehicles

Repair completion: 33.33% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-763 · Owners notified May 10, 2019 · Vehicles built August 27, 2014 – February 5, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Minotour transit buses, equipped with certain Syntec-brand S3B, Non-Restraint, Wall Mounted Seats. The wall mounting bracket may crack, which may cause the seat to not remain secured in place in the event of a crash.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the wall, the occupant has an increased risk of an injury.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wall mounting bracket, free of charge. DTNA issued an interim notification to owners on May 10, 2018. The recall began May 10, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-763.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Seats may Come Loose in a Crash

NHTSA #18V192000 · Seats · NHTSA notice

Reported March 26, 2018 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 6,606 vehicles

Repair completion: 78.31% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-763 · Owners notified May 10, 2019 · Vehicles built August 27, 2014 – February 5, 2018 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Minotour school buses, equipped with certain Syntec-brand S3B, Non-Restraint, Wall Mounted Seats. The wall mounting bracket may crack, which may cause the seat to not remain secured in place in the event of a crash.

Safety consequence

In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the wall, the occupant has an increased risk of an injury.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wall mounting bracket, free of charge. DTNA issued an interim notification to owners on May 9, 2018. The recall began May 10, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-763.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Wheelchair Lift Can be Operated While not in Park

NHTSA #18V158000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · NHTSA notice

Reported March 7, 2018 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 14 vehicles

Repair completion: 28.57% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-761 · Owners notified November 15, 2018 · Vehicles built June 22, 2007 – December 8, 2017 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour transit buses built on GM chassis and equipped with wheelchair lifts. The wheelchair lift may be operated while the vehicle is in Neutral or Drive.

Safety consequence

If the wheelchair lift can be operated when the vehicle is not in Park, there is increased risk of injury to the lift user.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the wheelchair lift, correcting the electrical connections as necessary, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on April 26, 2018. The recall began November 15, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-761.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Wheelchair Lift Can be Operated While not in Park

NHTSA #18V157000 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility · NHTSA notice

Reported March 7, 2018 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 3,304 vehicles

Repair completion: 60.93% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-761 · Owners notified November 15, 2018 · Vehicles built June 22, 2007 – December 8, 2017 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses built on GM chassis and equipped with wheelchair lifts. The wheelchair lift may be operated while the vehicle is in Neutral or Drive.

Safety consequence

If the wheelchair lift can be operated when the vehicle is not in Park, there is increased risk of injury to the lift user.

Manufacturer remedy

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Seat Mounting Reinforcement Brackets Missing

NHTSA #17V312000 · Seats · NHTSA notice

Reported May 11, 2017 · Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Potentially affected: 22 vehicles

Repair completion: 27.27% (latest rate the manufacturer reported to NHTSA; dataset updated November 3, 2026)

Manufacturer campaign FL-735 · Owners notified August 11, 2017 · Vehicles built October 2, 2014 – February 20, 2017 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2016-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour DRW school buses. The occupant seats may have been installed without reinforcement brackets being used underneath the seat rail as intended.

Safety consequence

Without reinforcement brackets, in the event of a crash, the seats may come loose, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seats and install reinforcement brackets as necessary, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners on July 5, 2017. The recall began on August 11, 2017. Owners may contact DTNA Customer Service 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for the recall is FL-735.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

1 owner complaint has been filed with NHTSA for the 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour.

Power Train

ODI #11503759

Incident: January 4, 2023 · Filed: January 26, 2023

Lost all forward gear. As show in the picture attached of the valve body the number 1 valve body check ball pointed at with the yellow arrow is significantly smaller the the rest of the check balls. This causes the vehical to lose all forward gears and potentialy putting you harms way. This come whithout warning and no check engine light. I run a fleet of about 60 of these vans and it has happened with at least 5 of my vans in the couple of years two of which have been repaired by the dealer. It is just a matter of time a van gets stuck in the middle of an intersection or on a railroad crossing.

Other Thomas Built Buses Minotour model years

Check your 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour VIN

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