- The problem
- The door hinges were not shielded and can snag exiting children's clothing or accessories.
- The risk
- When a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. This can result in serious injury or death.
- The fix
- Dealers will install hinge pads to prevent the snagging of passenger's clothing.
Vehicle safety record
1981 Thomas School Bus Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1981 Thomas School Bus have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in May 1996 for the body.
NHTSA data checked
CAbout as many problems as a typical School Bus year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1981 Thomas School Bus recalls 4
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
- Passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.
- The risk
- When a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. This can result inserious injury or death.
- The fix
- Replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from being caught.
- The problem
- Passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.
- The risk
- When a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. This can result in seriousinjury or death.
- The fix
- Replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.
- The problem
- The center actuator that releases two catches via two pull rods can become non-functional from poor or improper maintenance, lack of lubrication, corrosion, or a combination all three causes.
- The risk
- When the center actuator is non-functional, the windowis very difficult to open, and would not function as an emergency exit in caseof a vehicular accident.
- The fix
- Remove the old center actuator and install an improved actuator.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1981 Thomas School Bus 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 School Bus: every year compared
All School Bus yearsQuestions about the 1981 Thomas School Bus
Does the 1981 Thomas School Bus have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 1981 Thomas School Bus: body (May 1996); body (March 1996); body (March 1993); glass, side / rear (January 1992). 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 1981 Thomas School Bus had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1981 Thomas School Bus a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 50 out of 100 (grade C: about as many problems as a typical Thomas School Bus 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 School Bus years have the most complaints?
1998 (5), 1999 (3), 2009 (3). See every Thomas School Bus year compared.
What should I do if my 1981 Thomas School Bus 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