- The problem
- Certain freightliner custom chassis fs-65 school bus chassis and fb-65 shuttle bus chassis equipped with caterpillar c7 engines and revised cooling packages and manufactured between january 24, 2004, and june 15, 2005. The front hydraulic line may rub through on a radiator tube, possibly resulting in the loss of brake fluid to the front brakes.
- The risk
- The defect may cause the loss of front brakes, resulting in extended stopping distances and possibly a vehicle crash.
- The fix
- Freightliner and thomas built will notify its customers and will inspect and secure the brake line to provide more clearance free of charge. The recall began on january 20, 2006. Owners may contact freightliner at 1-800-547-0712.
Vehicle safety record
2004 Thomas FS-65 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 1 complaint about the 2004 Thomas FS-65 with NHTSA, most often about the electrical system (1). Those complaints describe 1 fire. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in September 2005 for the service brakes, hydraulic. For comparison, the 2005 has 2.
NHTSA data checked
- Complaints
- 1
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 1
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2004 Thomas FS-65 problems
Share of all 1 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2004 Thomas FS-65 recalls 2
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 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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1 complaints about the 2004 Thomas FS-65
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
After start-up when vehicle was idling for approximately 20 minutes started smoking from underneath the dash panel. It was approximately minutes 10 later when the fire was first noticed; time line is the best we can determine from video footage. Fire department arrived 10 minutes late and the bus was consumed by flames. The bus was destroyed beyond repair. *Tr
Thomas FS-65: every year compared
All FS-65 years2004 Thomas FS-65 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Thomas FS-65 | 1 | 2 | - | |
| 2004 Thomas C2 | 2 | 3 | C | Compare |
| 2004 Thomas School Bus | 1 | 1 | B | Compare |
| 2004 Thomas MVP EF | 1 | 7 | C | 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 FS-65
Does the 2004 Thomas FS-65 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2004 Thomas FS-65: service brakes, hydraulic (September 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 FS-65?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the electrical system (1).
How many complaints has the 2004 Thomas FS-65 had?
1 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on January 21, 2008 and the latest on January 21, 2008. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 1 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Which Thomas FS-65 years have the most complaints?
2005 (2), 2004 (1). See every Thomas FS-65 year compared.
What should I do if my 2004 Thomas FS-65 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