The problem
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2022 Thomas Built Minotour School Buses equipped with an optional rear door Vandalock system. The engine can potentially be started while an emergency exit is still locked. 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
A locked emergency exit can delay passengers from exiting the vehicle during an emergency, increasing their risk of injury.
The fix
DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will repair the Vandalock interlock system, free of charge. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-876.
Contacts
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.
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 Built Buses dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 21V113000.
- 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.