- 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
1997 Thomas Minotour Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1997 Thomas Minotour have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 2 recalls, the latest in March 2007 for the seat belts.
NHTSA data checked
BFewer problems than a typical Minotour year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 2
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1997 Thomas Minotour 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
- Vehicle description: school and transit buses built on general motors chassis. To install the new aluminum minotour body, two fuel tank strap fasteners were loosened. Re-tightening these fasteners can result in loss of clamp load, resulting in the fuel tank falling off the vehicle.
- The risk
- If the fuel tank fell, fuel leakage could occur, increasing the risk of a fire or explosion.
- The fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FASTENERS.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1997 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 years1997 Thomas Minotour vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Thomas Minotour | 0 | 2 | B | |
| 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 Minotour
Does the 1997 Thomas Minotour have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 2 recalls for the 1997 Thomas Minotour: seat belts (March 2007); mounting (July 1999). 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 Minotour had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1997 Thomas Minotour a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 65 out of 100 (grade B: fewer 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 1997 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