NHTSA vehicle safety data

2005 Thomas FS-65 Recalls & Complaints

The 2005 Thomas FS-65 has 2 NHTSA recall campaigns and 2 owner complaints on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Thomas dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2005 Thomas FS-65. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2005 Thomas FS-65 owner complaints

Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA about the 2005 Thomas FS-65, describing incidents dated August 15, 2004 to April 15, 2008.

Most-cited components

Exterior Lighting 2 complaints

Newest complaints

ODI #10226620 · Filed May 5, 2008
LED LIGHT STARTED SMOKING AND BURNED UP EMITTING SMOKE INSIDE THE BUS. THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS TYPE OF LIGHT. *TR
ODI #10149848 · Filed February 9, 2006
I WRITING IN RESPONSE TO A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS, SB 54-26. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN COVERS AN ISSUE WITH THE TURN SIGNAL CANCELLATION RING ON A 2005 MODEL THOMAS SCHOOL BUS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED THE PART WHICH CANCELS THE TURN SIGNAL AFTER A TURN…

Read all 2 complaints

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2005 Thomas FS-65 in 1 investigation. 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.

Engineering Analysis EA07-002: STEERING COLUMN WELD CRACKS
Closed July 12, 2007
- Recall 07V-289

Open and recently closed NHTSA defect investigations

ARVINMERITOR REAR AXLE HOUSING

NHTSA #05V467000 · Suspension — Rear — Axle — Spindle · NHTSA notice

Reported October 5, 2005 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 1,100 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign FL-460 · Owners notified April 11, 2006 · Vehicles built June 13, 2005 – July 8, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

CERTAIN 2005 THOMAS BUILT FS-65 AND C-2 SCHOOL BUSES AND 2005 FREIGHTLINER ARGOSY, COLUMBIA, CENTURY ST, AND M2 BUSINESS CLASS TRUCKS MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JUNE 4 AND JULY 8, 2005. THE SPINDLES IN THE REAR AXLE HOUSING WERE OVERHEATED DURING THE HEAT TREATMENT PROCESS. INCORRECTLY HEAT TREATED SPINDLES COULD RESULT IN A FRACTURE OF THE SPINDLE.

Safety consequence

INCORRECTLY HEAT TREATED SPINDLES COULD FRACTURE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE CRASH WITHOUT WARNING.

Manufacturer remedy

FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSPECT FOR THE HEAT TREAT DATE CODE ON THE END OF THE REAR SPINDLES AND REPLACE THE AXLE HOUSING IF NECESSARY. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON JANUARY 23, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER

Notes

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-460.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.

LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID

NHTSA #05V426000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic · NHTSA notice

Reported September 20, 2005 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 1,630 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign FL-455 · Owners notified January 20, 2006 · Vehicles built January 24, 2004 – June 15, 2005 (per NHTSA)

Defect description

CERTAIN FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS FS-65 SCHOOL BUS CHASSIS AND FB-65 SHUTTLE BUS CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C7 ENGINES AND REVISED COOLING PACKAGES AND MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 24, 2004, AND JUNE 15, 2005. THE FRONT HYDRAULIC LINE MAY RUB THROUGH ON A RADIATOR TUBE, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID TO THE FRONT BRAKES.

Safety consequence

THE DEFECT MAY CAUSE THE LOSS OF FRONT BRAKES, RESULTING IN EXTENDED STOPPING DISTANCES AND POSSIBLY A VEHICLE CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

FREIGHTLINER AND THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND WILL INSPECT AND SECURE THE BRAKE LINE TO PROVIDE MORE CLEARANCE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 20, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

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.

try.vin has no NCAP crash-test rating on file for the 2005 Thomas FS-65. NHTSA rates some vehicles by body style — pickups by cab, vans by roof height — so check nhtsa.gov/ratings.

2 owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2005 Thomas FS-65.

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10226620

Incident: April 15, 2008 · Filed: May 5, 2008

LED LIGHT STARTED SMOKING AND BURNED UP EMITTING SMOKE INSIDE THE BUS. THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS TYPE OF LIGHT. *TR

Exterior Lighting

ODI #10149848

Incident: August 15, 2004 · Filed: February 9, 2006

I WRITING IN RESPONSE TO A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS, SB 54-26. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN COVERS AN ISSUE WITH THE TURN SIGNAL CANCELLATION RING ON A 2005 MODEL THOMAS SCHOOL BUS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED THE PART WHICH CANCELS THE TURN SIGNAL AFTER A TURN IS COMPLETED. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS PART WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES TO SIGNAL WHEN MAKING A TURN, AS IS INDICATED IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ANY INFORMATION ON THIS DEFECT UNTIL MY 19 SCHOOL BUSES WERE OUT OF THEIR WARRANTY PERIOD. I BELIEVE THIS SERVICE BULLETIN SHOULD BE UPGRADED TO A RECALL DUE TO THE SAFETY FACTOR INVOLVED. NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT, BUT I FEEL THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT RESULTS FROM IT. *NM

Other Thomas FS-65 model years

Check your 2005 Thomas FS-65 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Thomas FS-65 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Thomas VIN