Buy me a coffee
🩹 Injury riskNHTSA 18V698📅 Oct 11, 2018

2015–2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour recall: body & structure

⚠️ What's wrong

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."

💥 The risk

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.

🔧 The fix

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.

Is the fix free? Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer under federal law, including parts and labor. (Vehicles more than 15 years old when the recall was announced can be excluded, but most manufacturers still fix them.)
NHTSA campaign
18V698000
Manufacturer recall #
FL-797
Manufacturer
Daimler Trucks North America LLC
Vehicles affected
701
Component
STRUCTURE:EMERGENCY:ESCAPE/EGRESS/EXIT
Owner phone
1-800-547-0712
NHTSA hotline
1-888-327-4236
Owner letters mailed
Jun 28, 2019
Built
Mar 25, 2014 – Jun 5, 2018
Recall started by
MFR
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.

Vehicles in this recall

Is your car affected? Recalls apply to specific VINs. Check my VIN

FAQ

Is the 18V698 recall repair free?

Yes. Safety recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer under federal law, including parts and labor. (Vehicles more than 15 years old when the recall was announced can be excluded, but most manufacturers still fix them.)

Which vehicles are included in recall 18V698?

2015–2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour. 701 vehicles may be affected. Check your exact car with its 17-character VIN.

What should I do?

Check your VIN, then call any authorized Thomas Built Buses dealer to book the free repair or call the manufacturer at 1-800-547-0712.