- The problem
- Certain my 2004-2006 freightliner custom chassis b2 school buses and thomas built c2 school buses built with air or hydraulic brakes with a one valve park brake system and park brake release interlock manufactured between june 17, 2004, and february 20, 2006. At higher vehicle loads, the parking brakes may not fully apply.
- The risk
- A bus may roll if the driver releases the service brakes before the parking brakes fully apply, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash or injure passengers entering or leaving the bus.
- The fix
- Freightliner will notify owners and repair the park brake free of charge. The recall began on may 12, 2006. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Vehicle safety record
2004 Thomas C2 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2004 Thomas C2 with NHTSA, most often about the wheels & tires (1) and the body, doors & structure (1). It is covered by 3 recalls, the latest in March 2006 for the parking brake. For comparison, the 2005 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical C2 year, for its age
#364 most complained-about 2004 vehicle
- Complaints
- 2
- Recalls
- 3
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2004 Thomas C2 problems
Share of all 2 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2004 Thomas C2 recalls 3
Recall repairs are free. Your dealer fixes them whether or not you bought the car there - check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see if yours is done. What to do
- The problem
- Certain 2004 and 2005 thomas built c2 school buses and freightliner business class m2 heavy trucks manufactured between june 2004 and march 2005. The anchor/pivot bolt supplied with the park brake is defective and could fatigue fracture prematurely, resulting in the park brake failing to apply.
- The risk
- If the park brake anchor bolt fatigues and ultimately fractures, the park brake may not function and there may be no indication to the driver of the malfunction when the park brake is set. This may cause the vehicle to roll away without warning, which could result in a crash.
- The fix
- Freightliner will notify its owners and inspect and replace defective anchor bolts free of charge. The recall began on march 7, 2006. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
- The problem
- Certain michelin xde commercial truck tires, size 10r22.5 Lrg and lrf for use on freightliner school and transit buses. These tires were manfactured between may 23 and october 24, 2004, can experience rapid air loss due to an irregularity of the inner liner.
- The risk
- Rapid air loss can result in loss of vehicle control and a vehicle crash can occur.
- The fix
- Michelin will notify its customers and replace the tires free of charge. The recall began december 27, 2004. Owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact michelin at 888-622-2306.
What owners say
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2 complaints about the 2004 Thomas C2
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Tl*- the contact stated that the 2004 thomas built school bus' cowl separated from the body of the bus. The contact called the manufacturer, and was denied the repairs because the school was supposed to tighten all the cowl mounting bolts every 6 months. The contact called the ponder equipment dealership, and was informed that they never heard that this type of maintenance would be needed for the cowl mounts. The contact stated that due to this problem the entire front end could detach from the bus. *Ak
I have a complaint about a product our state uses on it's school bus units. The state buys school bus retreads (called bead to bead retreads) that cover up the original manufacturer's name, dot , load range and other vital information. Does the tread act cover school bus sized (11r22.5) Tires? The information placed back on the casing during the re-manufacturing process does not match that of the original manufacturer. (Goodyear) are re-manufactured tires that cover the sidewall of the original manufacturer legal? What happens if the original manufacturer has a recall, how would we get the correct tires off the school bus units that carry our children? Thanks. *Jb
Thomas C2: every year compared
All C2 years2004 Thomas C2 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Thomas C2 | 2 | 3 | C | |
| 2004 Thomas School Bus | 1 | 1 | B | Compare |
| 2004 Thomas MVP EF | 1 | 7 | C | Compare |
| 2004 Thomas FS-65 | 1 | 2 | - | Compare |
More sales usually means more complaints, so compare similar vehicles of the same year. The grade compares each vehicle with its own model's other years.
Questions about the 2004 Thomas C2
Does the 2004 Thomas C2 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 3 recalls for the 2004 Thomas C2: parking brake (March 2006); parking brake (October 2005); tires (December 2004). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
What are the most common problems with the 2004 Thomas C2?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the wheels & tires (1), body, doors & structure (1).
How many complaints has the 2004 Thomas C2 had?
2 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on November 3, 2006 and the latest on February 23, 2007. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 2004 Thomas C2 a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 43 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Thomas C2 year, for its age). The index weighs complaints, crashes, fires, injuries, deaths and recalls against how long the vehicle has been on the road, compared with the same model's other years. It is not a measure of every repair - read the complaints and owner experiences, and have any used vehicle inspected before you buy.
Which Thomas C2 years have the most complaints?
2004 (2), 2008 (1). See every Thomas C2 year compared.
What should I do if my 2004 Thomas C2 has a problem?
If it is a safety problem, stop driving it if it is unsafe and contact your dealer. Report it to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/report-a-safety-problem - enough reports start investigations and recalls - and share your experience here so other owners know what to look for.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) complaints and recalls, checked . Complaints are owners' own reports and are not verified. How we use the data