The problem
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses. The forward seat barrier behind the driver may not provide sufficient protection to passengers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."
The risk
Occupants may collide with the front seat barrier with more force than intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix
Dealers will replace the barrier, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 9, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL959.
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.nhtsa.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 22V840000.
- 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.