- 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
Vehicle safety record
1997 Thomas Vista Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1997 Thomas Vista have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in November 2000 for the seats.
NHTSA data checked
FFar more problems than a typical Vista year, for its age
- Complaints
- 0
- Recalls
- 4
- Crashes
- 0
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Deaths
- 0
1997 Thomas Vista 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
- Vehicle description: school buses built on a navistar chassis. The cross view mirrors do not comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 111, "Rearview mirrors." The entire top surface of cylinder h is not visible as required.
- The risk
- A driver may not be able to see certain portions of the bus increasing the risk of a crash or personal injury to persons near the bus.
- The fix
- Owners will be provided with a repair kit and detailed instructions. If an owner so desires, thomas built dealers can perform the repair for them.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with national seating series 93b-sb driver seat. A bracket attaching to the height adjusting shock absorber on the driver's seat can deform and break.
- The risk
- This condition can 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 add a reinforcement to the bracket, or if the bracket is deformed and/or broken, the entire seat base will be replaced.
- The problem
- Vehicle description: school buses. The flip seats installed on these buses do not meet the rearward push requirements of fmvss no. 222, "School bus passenger seating and crash protection."
- The risk
- In the event of a vehicle crash, the seat occupant may not be properly protected increasing the risk of personal injury.
- The fix
- Owners will be provided with repair parts and a detailed repair procedure. If an owner so desires, thomas built will perform the repair for them.
What owners say
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No complaints about the 1997 Thomas Vista 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 Vista: every year compared
All Vista years1997 Thomas Vista vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Thomas Vista | 0 | 4 | F | |
| 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 Vista
Does the 1997 Thomas Vista have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 1997 Thomas Vista: seats (November 2000); exterior (December 1998); seats (September 1998); seats (November 1997). 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 Vista had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1997 Thomas Vista a reliable vehicle?
Its Safety Index is 11 out of 100 (grade F: far more problems than a typical Thomas Vista 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 Vista 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