- The problem
- Daimler trucks is recalling 243,435 my 1995-2008 thomas built school buses manufactured between january 1994, and march 10, 2008. (Additional buses have been added to this recall campaign. Please see supplemental report no. 4) The emergency exit door handle begins corroding around the securing roll pin and square drive mechanism causing the protective finish to chip and flake. Continued corrosion and pitting weakens the handle. Handles weakened by corrosion may break while trying to open the door from the exterior.
- The risk
- In the event of an emergency, a person on the outside of the bus may break the door handle trying to open the emergency exit potentially delaying evacuation and increasing the risk of personal injury to the vehicle's occupants.
- The fix
- Daimler trucks will notify owners and will replace the handles with a more robust handle free of charge. Repairs will be performed by thomas built buses dealerships. The recall began on august 18, 2008, and notification for the revised population is expected to begin on or about april 29, 2009. Owners may contact thomas built at 336-889-4871.
Vehicle safety record
1998 Thomas MVP EF Problems, complaints & recalls
Owners have filed 3 complaints about the 1998 Thomas MVP EF with NHTSA, most often about the fuel system (3). It is covered by 8 recalls, the latest in February 2008 for the hinge and attachments. For comparison, the 1997 has 2 and the 1999 has 0.
NHTSA data checked
DMore problems than a typical MVP EF year, for its age
#254 most complained-about 1998 vehicle
- Complaints
- 3
- Recalls
- 8
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
Most common 1998 Thomas MVP EF problems
Share of all 3 complaints. One complaint can name more than one area. Tap an area for its complaints and recalls.
1998 Thomas MVP EF 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
- 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.
- The problem
- Certain 1998-2003 my freightliner fs-65 school bus chassis and mb-45, mb-55, and xb shuttle bus chassis, and thomas built bus: mvp-er and mvp-ef school bus and non-school bus models equipped with cummins isb diesel engines and equipped with federal-mogal 12 and 24 volt fuel lift pumps. The fuel pump could fail to transfer fuel appropriately creating an engine stall condition.
- The risk
- Should the engine stall while the vehicle is in use, a possible vehicle crash could occur.
- The fix
- Cummins will notify the customers of freightliner and thomas built and replace the fuel lift pump free of charge. Owners may contact cummins at 1-800-diesels.
- The problem
- On certain thomas school buses, the alternator cable can pinch between the air conditioning compressor and engine block.
- The risk
- This can result in damage to wire insulation and potentially cause a short circuit.
- The fix
- Dealers will re-route the cable. Owner notification began july 28, 2003. 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 freightliner/thomas built at
- The problem
- Vehicle description: certain school buses fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, "Bus emergency exits and window retention and release." A third roof hatch must be added to meet the standard requirements. Only vehicles located in the state of washington are involved.
- The risk
- In the event of a crash, the bus occupant may not be able to exit the bus quickly.
- The fix
- Dealers will install a third roof hatch. Owner notification began may 1, 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 336-889-4871.
- 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
- The problem
- Vehicle description: school bus chassis and emergency vehicles built with bendix air abs with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu), there have been reports of unwanted abs activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed abs wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.
- The risk
- This condition could cause the abs ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.
- The fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: heavy duty trucks and school bus chassis built with bendix air abs with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu), there have been reports of unwanted abs activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed abs wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.
- The risk
- This condition could cause the abs ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. This could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.
- The fix
- DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE ABS ECU.
What owners say
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3 complaints about the 1998 Thomas MVP EF
Newest first, as filed with NHTSA by owners.
Dt*: the contact stated there is a build up of road salt corrosion on the fuel tank. The corrosion caused a leak in the fuel tank. The leak was discovered during a routine inspection. The fuel tank was cleaned and the hole was patched by an independent repair shop. The problem has not returned.
Dt*: the contact stated there is a build up of road salt corrosion on the fuel tank. The corrosion caused a leak in the fuel tank. The leak was discovered during a routine inspection. The fuel tank was cleaned and the hole was patched by an independent repair shop. The problem has not returned.
Dt*: the contact stated there is a build up of road salt corrosion on the fuel tank. The corrosion caused a leak in the fuel tank. The leak was discovered during a routine inspection. The fuel tank was cleaned and the hole was patched by an independent repair shop. The problem has not returned.
Thomas MVP EF: every year compared
All MVP EF years1998 Thomas MVP EF vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Thomas MVP EF | 3 | 8 | D | |
| 1998 Thomas School Bus | 5 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1998 Thomas Thomas | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1998 Thomas Bus | 1 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1998 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 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 1998 Thomas MVP EF
Does the 1998 Thomas MVP EF have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 8 recalls for the 1998 Thomas MVP EF: hinge and attachments (February 2008); seat belts (March 2007); fuel system, diesel (April 2005); alternator / generator / regulator (June 2003) and more. 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 1998 Thomas MVP EF?
By the complaints owners filed with NHTSA, the most common problem areas are the fuel system (3).
How many complaints has the 1998 Thomas MVP EF had?
3 complaints have been filed with NHTSA, the first on February 2, 2006 and the latest on February 2, 2006. Of these, 0 describe a crash and 0 a fire, and together they report 0 injuries and 0 deaths.
Is the 1998 Thomas MVP EF a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 35 out of 100 (grade D: more problems than a typical Thomas MVP EF 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 MVP EF years have the most complaints?
1998 (3), 1997 (2), 1996 (1). See every Thomas MVP EF year compared.
What should I do if my 1998 Thomas MVP EF 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