- The problem
- Certain 2005 thomas built fs-65 and c-2 school buses and 2005 freightliner argosy, columbia, century st, and m2 business class trucks manufactured between june 4 and july 8, 2005. The spindles in the rear axle housing were overheated during the heat treatment process. Incorrectly heat treated spindles could result in a fracture of the spindle.
- The risk
- Incorrectly heat treated spindles could fracture, possibly resulting in a vehicle crash without warning.
- The fix
- Freightliner will notify its customers and inspect for the heat treat date code on the end of the rear spindles and replace the axle housing if necessary. The recall is expected to begin on january 23, 2006. Owners may contact freightliner
Vehicle safety record
2005 Thomas FS-65 Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 2 complaints about the 2005 Thomas FS-65 with NHTSA, most often about the lights (2). It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in October 2005 for the spindle. For comparison, the 2004 has 1.
NHTSA data checked
- Complaints
- 2
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 2005 Thomas FS-65 problems
Share of all 2 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
2005 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 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.
What owners say
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2 complaints about the 2005 Thomas FS-65
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Led light started smoking and burned up emitting smoke inside the bus. This was the second incident with this type of light. *Tr
I writing in response to a service bulletin issued by freightliner custom chassis, sb 54-26. This service bulletin covers an issue with the turn signal cancellation ring on a 2005 model thomas school bus. The manufacturer has incorrectly installed the part which cancels the turn signal after a turn is completed. Due to the fact that this part was incorrectly installed, it is impossible at times to signal when making a turn, as is indicated in their service bulletin. I was not able to get any information on this...
Read the full complaint
defect until my 19 school buses were out of their warranty period. I believe this service bulletin should be upgraded to a recall due to the safety factor involved. No one has been injured as a result of this defect, but I feel this problem should be corrected and the manufacturer should take financial responsibility for their negligence before an accident results from it. *Nm
Thomas FS-65: every year compared
All FS-65 years2005 Thomas FS-65 vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 Thomas FS-65 | 2 | 2 | - | |
| 2005 Thomas Saf-T-Liner ER | 2 | 1 | F | 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 2005 Thomas FS-65
Does the 2005 Thomas FS-65 have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 2005 Thomas FS-65: spindle (October 2005); service brakes, hydraulic (September 2005). 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 2005 Thomas FS-65?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the lights (2).
How many complaints has the 2005 Thomas FS-65 had?
2 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on February 9, 2006 and the latest on May 5, 2008. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 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 2005 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