The problem
Vehicle description: certain school buses built with composite front roof caps fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 221, "School bus body joint strength." The roof cap does not meet the requirements due to the omission of the adhesive that joins the roof to the bus body.
The risk
In the event of a crash, the roof of the vehicle may crush, not properly protecting the vehicle occupants.
The fix
Dealers will re-bond the roof cap to the roof sheet metal. Owner notification began september 14, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact thomas built at 1-336-889-4871.
Contacts
Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized Thomas, Thomas Built Buses dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 01V104000.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.