The 1990 Thomas Built School Bus has 12 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 144,132 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Last updated July 5, 2026.
THE DOOR HINGES WERE NOT SHIELDED AND CAN SNAG EXITING CHILDREN'S CLOTHING OR ACCESSORIES.
WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
DEALERS WILL INSTALL HINGE PADS TO PREVENT THE SNAGGING OF PASSENGER'S CLOTHING.
PASSENGER'S CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.
WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION,THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT INSERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
REPLACE OR REPOSITION THE HANDRAILS TO STOP CLOTHING FROM BEING CAUGHT.
PASSENGERS CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.
WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THEHANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THEINDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUSINJURY OR DEATH.
REPLACE OR REPOSITION THE HANDRAILS TO STOP CLOTHING FROM BECOMING CAUGHT.
THE CURRENT PRODUCTION STATIONARY WINDOW ASSEMBLIES ALLOW THE GLASS TO DISENGAGE FROM THE RUBBER AND/OR FRAME.
THE WINDOWS DO NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 217, "BUS WINDOWRETENTION AND RELEASE."
INSTALL TWO RETAINING CLIPS AT EACH NON-COMPLYING WINDOW.
THE CENTER ACTUATOR THAT RELEASES TWO CATCHES VIA TWO PULL RODS CAN BECOME NON-FUNCTIONAL FROM POOR OR IMPROPER MAINTENANCE, LACK OF LUBRICATION, CORROSION, OR A COMBINATION ALL THREE CAUSES.
WHEN THE CENTER ACTUATOR IS NON-FUNCTIONAL, THE WINDOWIS VERY DIFFICULT TO OPEN, AND WOULD NOT FUNCTION AS AN EMERGENCY EXIT IN CASEOF A VEHICULAR ACCIDENT.
REMOVE THE OLD CENTER ACTUATOR AND INSTALL AN IMPROVED ACTUATOR.
RELEASE HANDLE FOR REAR PUSH OUT WINDOW IS NOT LOCATED IN AREA REQUIRED BY S5.2.3.1(B) OF FMVSS 217.
BUSES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH STANDARDS; IN AN EMERGENCY,EXIT FROM THE PUSH-OUT WINDOW COULD BE HAMPERED.
INSTALL NEW INTERIOR HANDLE ASSEMBLY TO MEET SPECIFICATIONS.
THE FUEL SHUT-OFF SOLENOID IN THE CUMMINS 6C ENGINE MAY BE FAULTY, CAUSING SPONTANEOUS INTERRUPTION OF FUEL FLOW TO THE ENGINE DURING NORMAL OPERATION. THIS RESULTS IN LOSS OF POWER TO DRIVING WHEELS, POWER STEERING, AND OTHER POWER ASSISTED OPERATING SYSTEMS.
LOSS OF ENGINE POWER AND SECONDARY LOSS OF POWER ASSISTEDSYSTEMS REDUCES STEERING CONTROL, BRAKING ABILITY, VISUAL SYSTEMS AND OTHERPOWER ASSISTED OPERATING SYSTEMS, RESULTING IN INCREASED RISK OF VEHICLEACCIDENT.
WHERE NECESSARY, REPLACE THE SOLENOID SPRING, ADJUST SOLENOID, REPLACE WIRES, AND VERIFY MAXIMUM POWER REQUIREMENTS TO THE SOLENOID.
THE STEERING LINKAGE (DRAG LINK) BETWEEN THE STEERING GEAR PITMAN ARM AND THE STEERING ARM ON THE AXLE MAY HAVE BEEN IMPROPERLY FASTENED.
THE DRAG LINK COULD BECOME DISCONNECTED AT EITHER ENDWHICH RESULTS IN LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.
INSTALL CORRECT PINS AND PROPERLY TIGHTEN THE CASTELLATED NUTS.
DRIVER'S SAFETY BELT IS TOO SHORT TO MEET LENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 209.
SHORT SAFETY BELTS WOULD DISCOURAGE DRIVER FROM USINGTHEM. SEAT OCCUPANT NOT USING SAFETY BELT WOULD NOT HAVE ADEQUATE PROTECTION INCASE OF A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.
REPLACE THE BELT ASSEMBLY WITH A COMPLIANT VERSION.
THE SEAT DO NOT COMPLY WITH ENERGY ABSORPTION REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS 222.
THE REAR FACING SEATS HAD ONLY ONE THIRD OF THE REQUIREDENERGY ABSORPTION; A PASSENGER USING THIS SEAT COULD BE INJURED IN A SUDDEN STOPOR AN ACCIDENT.
INSTALL NEW FOLDUP SEATS WITH APPROPRIATE FASTENERS.
THE COMBINATION OF TYPE 2 ELR SEAT BELT AND SUSPENSION TYPE DRIVER'S SEAT CAUSES SAFETY BELT CINCHING WHICH BECOMES SEVERE ENOUGH TO DISTRACT OR HINDER DRIVER FROM NORMAL OPERATION OF BUS.
DISTRACTION OF DRIVER COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT.
INSTALL SEAT BELT THAT INCORPORATES SOME ANTI-CINCHING FEATURES AND A NEW SET OF TETHER STRAPS FOR SUSPENSION SEAT.
UPPER ANCHORAGE OF TYPE 2 SAFETY BELT INSTALLED AT THE DRIVER'S SEATING POSITION IS NOT WITHIN THE SPECIFIED RANGE AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS 210.
BELTS MAY BE UNCOMFORTABLE AND OBSTRUCT VISION TO THE LEFT; BUSES WOULD NOT COMPLY WITH STANDARD.
INSTALL REINFORCING CHANNEL ASSURING THAT BELTS ARE WITHIN SPECIFIED RANGE.
There is no summary currently available
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1990 Thomas Built School Bus as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.