- The problem
- Vehicle description: certain school buses and transit buses equipped with national seating's series 93b-sb driver seat. A bracket attaching the gas spring shock to the height adjuster of the seat can deform and break. This bracket is located at the top of the height adjuster.
- The risk
- If the bracket is not replaced after deforming, and is allowed to break, its breaking will result in a sudden drop of the driver's seat, increasing the risk of loss of control of the vehicle and a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will replace the seat base and add reinforcement to the seat assembly
Vehicle safety record
1997 Thomas Conventional Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1997 Thomas Conventional have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 8 recalls, the latest in November 2000 for the seats.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Conventional year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1997 Thomas Conventional recalls 8
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
- Vehicle description: certain school buses equipped with a storage compartment overhead to the left of the driver fail to meet fmvss no. 222, "School bus passenger seating and crash protection."
- The risk
- Contact with this storage compartment does not meet the impact zone requirements of the standard.
- The fix
- Dealers will add padding to the sides of the storage compartment. Owner notification began february 8, 2002. 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.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: transit and school buses equipped with air suspension driver seat. Tether belts used to anchor the seat belt assembly to the floor were not installed on buses equipped with an air ride driver seat. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 210, "Seat belt assembly anchorages."
- The risk
- In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, increasing the risk of personal injury.
- The fix
- DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE TETHER BELT ASSEMBLY.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: school buses. Restraining barriers and reinforcement plates may be installed incorrectly. Nuts used to secure the plate the floor may be missing or the reinforcement plate may be mounted in a non-standard location. This does not meet the requirements of fmvss no. 222, "School bus passenger seating and crash protection."
- The risk
- In the event of a crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained increasing the risk of personal injury.
- The fix
- Dealers will inspect the barriers and plates, install any nuts that are missing, and mount the reinforcement plate correctly.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: school buses built on a navistar chassis. The cross view mirrors do not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 111, "Rearview mirrors." The entire top surface of cylinder h is not visible as required.
- The risk
- A driver may not be able to see certain portions of the bus increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury to persons near the bus.
- The fix
- Owners will be provided with a repair kit and detailed instructions. If an owner so desires, thomas built dealers can perform the repair for them.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with national seating series 93b-sb driver seat. A bracket attaching to the height adjusting shock absorber on the driver's seat can deform and break.
- The risk
- This condition can result in a sudden drop of the driver's seat, increasing the risk of loss of control of the vehicle and a crash.
- The fix
- Dealers will add a reinforcement to the bracket, or if the bracket is deformed and/or broken, the entire seat base will be replaced.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: school buses. These vehicles do not comply with the visibility requirements of fmvss no. 111, "Rearview mirrors."
- The risk
- The driver of the bus may not have a clear and unobstructed view to the rear.
- The fix
- New mirrors which incorporate mirror arms that will move the cross view mirrors forward will be installed on these vehicles.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: school buses. The flip seats installed on these buses do not meet the rearward push requirements of fmvss no. 222, "School bus passenger seating and crash protection."
- The risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the seat occupant may not be properly protected increasing the risk of personal injury.
- The fix
- Owners will be provided with repair parts and a detailed repair procedure. If an owner so desires, thomas built will perform the repair for them.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1997 Thomas Conventional yet
No owner has filed a complaint about this vehicle with NHTSA. If yours has a problem, share it here and report it to NHTSA.
Thomas Conventional: every year compared
All Conventional years1997 Thomas Conventional vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Thomas Conventional | 0 | 8 | F | |
| 1997 Thomas MVP EF | 2 | 6 | C | Compare |
| 1997 Thomas School Bus | 1 | 0 | A | 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 1997 Thomas Conventional
Does the 1997 Thomas Conventional have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 1997 Thomas Conventional: seats (November 2000); unknown or other (November 2000); seats (July 1999); seats (July 1999) and more. Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours has been fixed.
How many complaints has the 1997 Thomas Conventional had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1997 Thomas Conventional a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 11 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Thomas Conventional 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 Conventional years have the most complaints?
2001 (1), 2002 (1). See every Thomas Conventional year compared.
What should I do if my 1997 Thomas Conventional 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