NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Thomas School Bus Recalls & Complaints

The 2004 Thomas School Bus has 1 NHTSA recall campaign and 1 owner complaint on file as of November 3, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Thomas dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Thomas School Bus. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

2004 Thomas School Bus owner complaints

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2004 Thomas School Bus, describing incidents dated September 23, 2013.

Most-cited components

Electrical System 1 complaint

The complaint on file reports a fire (owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA).

Newest complaints

ODI #10545001 · Filed September 23, 2013
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 THOMAS SCHOOL BUS BODY EQUIPPED WITH AN INTERNATIONAL CHASSIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND WITHIN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE HAD BECOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT…

Read the full complaint

NHTSA defect investigations

NHTSA's investigations file lists the 2004 Thomas School Bus 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

FRACTURE SUSPENSION BEAM/HOLLAND/NEWAY

NHTSA #05V284000 · Suspension · NHTSA notice

Reported June 14, 2005 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 634 vehicles

Manufacturer campaign FL-453 · Owners notified February 10, 2006

Defect description

CERTAIN FREIGHTLINER TRUCKS AND THOMAS SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH HOLLAND/NEWAY AIR SUSPENSION SYSTEMS, A TRANSVERSE BEAM CASTING MAY FRACTURE UNDER NORMAL LOADS. IF A CASTING BREAKS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS TRAVELING ON A ROADWAY THERE IS THE POTENTIAL FOR PIECES OF THE CASTING TO BECOME PROJECTILES AND THE SUSPENSION'S TRANSVERSE BEAM MAY DROP DOWN LOW ENOUGH TO CONTACT THE ROAD SURFACE.

Safety consequence

THIS WILL CAUSE SPARKS THAT COULD POTENTIALLY IGNITE AND CAUSE A FIRE.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE TRANSVERSE BEAM ASSEMBLIES. THE RECALL BEGAN FOR THOMAS BUILT OWNERS ON FEBRUARY 10, 2006; AND FOR FREIGHTLINER OWNERS ON APRIL 14, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO.FL-453.CUSTOMERS MAY ALSO 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 2004 Thomas School Bus. 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 2004 Thomas School Bus.

Electrical System

ODI #10545001

Fire

Incident: September 23, 2013 · Filed: September 23, 2013

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2004 THOMAS SCHOOL BUS BODY EQUIPPED WITH AN INTERNATIONAL CHASSIS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT BURNING FUMES WERE EMITTED FROM UNDER THE DASHBOARD AND WITHIN MINUTES, THE VEHICLE HAD BECOME ENGULFED IN FLAMES. THERE WERE NO INJURIES AND A FIRE REPORT WAS FILED OF THE INCIDENT. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION WAS CONDUCTED AND THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FIRE WAS CAUSED BY AN ELECTRICAL FAILURE UNDER THE DASHBOARD. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS UNKNOWN.

Other Thomas School Bus model years

Check your 2004 Thomas School Bus VIN

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

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