- The problem
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 1998-2002 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Conventional, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner ER, 2000-2017 Saf-T-Liner MVP-EF, 1998-1999 Vista, 2003 Saf-T-Liner FS65, 2013-2017 Saf-T-liner C2, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner MVP-ER, 2013-2017 Saf-T-Liner HDX. In the affected vehicles, the stem that connects the outside emergency door handle to the emergency door opening mechanism may corrode.
- The risk
- If the stem corrodes, the door handle could detach from the emergency door opening mechanism, delaying the opening of the door and the evacuation of the bus. In the event of an emergency, this may increase the risk of injury to the bus occupants.
- The fix
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will either replace the stems or protect them against corrosion, free of charge. An interim notice was sent to owners on July 28, 2016. A second notice was mailed to owners on December 16, 2016. Parts are available. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-713.
Vehicle safety record
1998 Thomas Vista Problems, complaints & recalls
No owner complaints about the 1998 Thomas Vista have been filed with NHTSA. It is covered by 4 recalls, the latest in June 2016 for the door.
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
1998 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: 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 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.
What owners say
Be the first Vista owner to share.
Problems or none - your experience is exactly what the next buyer is looking for. Write it now
No complaints about the 1998 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 years1998 Thomas Vista vs rivals
| Vehicle | Complaints | Recalls | Grade | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 Thomas Vista | 0 | 4 | F | |
| 1998 Thomas School Bus | 5 | 0 | A | Compare |
| 1998 Thomas MVP EF | 3 | 8 | D | 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 Vista
Does the 1998 Thomas Vista have any recalls?
Yes - NHTSA lists 4 recalls for the 1998 Thomas Vista: door (June 2016); seats (November 2000); exterior (December 1998); seats (September 1998). 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 1998 Thomas Vista had?
None have been filed with NHTSA so far.
Is the 1998 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 1998 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