- The problem
- Certain my 1994 through 2002 thomas built minotour, fs-65, mvp-ef, er, and hdx-ef school buses manufactured between january 23, 1994, and april 15, 2002. The seat belt may chafe on the edge of a metal bracket and wear prematurely.
- The risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the seat occupant may not be properly restrained, possibly resulting in personal injury.
- The fix
- Thomas built will notify owners and replace any chafed seat belts and replace or modify the retainer strip to prevent any further chafing. The recall began on february 8, 2008. Owners may contact thomas built at 336-889-4871 or contact freightliner at 800-547-0712.
Vehicle safety record
1996 Thomas Minotour Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1996 Thomas Minotour have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 6 recalls, the latest in March 2007 for the seat belts.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical Minotour year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 6
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1996 Thomas Minotour recalls 6
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: school buses built on chevrolet chassis with a corrugated steel floor and and equipped with 45" wide restraining passenger seats. The 45" wide restraining passenger seat fails to comply with the performance 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.
- The fix
- Dealers will install two additional anchorage points connecting the seat to the floor.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: school buses equipped with manually operated outward opening entrance doors. An item worn by a child, such as a long drawstring, sash, or backpack/bookbag accessory, can becomecaught in the area between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket.
- The risk
- If an item worn by a child were to catch on this area, and the driver were to close the door and put the vehicle in motion, this can result in in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- These buses were originally included in recall campaign 96v-139. However, the repair did not eliminate the potential snagging point between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket. Therefore, owners are being renotified to inspect the orientation of the door control. If the door control does not match the orientation described in the renotification letter, the owner will be instructed to remove the existing control and the original recall repair part, reoirient the door control, and reinstall the recall repair part.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: school buses built on gm p3 cutaway chassis. The school bus, when tested in accordance with fmvss no. 301, Exceeded the allowable fuel spillage as specified by the standard. The fuel tank was punctured as a result of the impact of the moving barrier.
- The risk
- If a vehicle crash were to occur, fuel leakage could result. If an ignition source were present, this condition could result in a vehicle fire.
- The fix
- General motors is working in conjunction with carpenter, thomas built and u.S. Bus in providing the owner notification and remedy campaign for this recall. Dealers will install new shielding for the fuel tank, new fill pipe and vent hoses, and if required, add additional attachments to secure the school bus body to the chassis.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: school buses built on gm p3 cutaway chassis. The school bus, when tested in accordance with fmvss no. 301, Exceeded the allowable fuel spillage as specified by the standard. The fuel tank was punctured as a result of the impact of the moving barrier.
- The risk
- If a vehicle crash were to occur, fuel leakage could result. If an ignition source were present, this condition could result in a vehicle fire.
- The fix
- General motors is working in conjunction with thomas built in providing the owner notification and remedy campaign for this recall. Dealers will add new shielding for the fuel tank, new fill pipe and vent hoses; and, if required, add additional attachments to secure the school bus body to the chassis.
- The problem
- An item worn by a child, such as a long drawstring, sash, or backpack/bookbag accessory, can become caught in the area between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket.
- The risk
- If an item worn by a child were to catch on this area, and the driver were to close the door and put the vehicle in motion, this can result in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- A molded cover will be installed between the manually operated outward opening entrance door and the door control rod attaching bracket which will eliminate the opening that could allow an item of a child's clothing to become snagged.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1996 Thomas Minotour 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 Minotour: every year compared
All Minotour years1996 Thomas Minotour vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Thomas Minotour | 0 | 6 | D | |
| 1996 Thomas School Bus | 2 | 2 | B | Compare |
| 1996 Thomas MVP EF | 1 | 4 | B | Compare |
| 1996 Thomas ER Model | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1996 Thomas Thomas | 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 1996 Thomas Minotour
Does the 1996 Thomas Minotour have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 6 recalls for the 1996 Thomas Minotour: seat belts (March 2007); anchorage (September 1999); body (July 1997); tank assembly (October 1996) 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 1996 Thomas Minotour had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1996 Thomas Minotour a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 26 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Thomas Minotour 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.
What should I do if my 1996 Thomas Minotour 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