2007 THOMAS BUILT BUSES C2 — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data

SOMETHING BROKE THE LOWER SIDE DASH WINDOW LT SIDE. THE GLASS IS BONDED TO THE FRAME WITH A RUBBER LIKE SUBSTANCE. THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE TEMPERED GLASS WHICH NORMALLY BREAK INTO SMALL SQUARES AND ARE FAIRLY HARMLESS. THIS WINDOW BROKE INTO SHARP STICK LIKE SHARDS RADIATING AROUND THE FRACTURE SITE AT THE TOP AREA WHERE THE GLASS WAS BONDED TO THE FRAME. THIS IS THE FIRST WINDOW BREAK WE HAVE HAD ON A C2 AND WE WERE ALARMED AT THE FAILURE OF THE GLASS TO DISINTEGRATE INTO THE USUAL SMALL SQUARES. DOES THE BONDING HAVE SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE CHANGE IN THE PATTERN? *TR

THOMAS C2 - AMU PARK BRAKE SWITCH, 2007-2008 YEAR MODELS PROBLEM: MY OFFICE RECEIVED REPORTS FROM SCDE MAINTENANCE FACILITIES OF CONTINUED FAILURES WITH THE AIR BRAKE INTERLOCK SYSTEM AIR MANAGEMENT UNIT (AMU). THE FAILURE MODE OF CURRENT CONCERN IS WITH THE PARK BRAKE SWITCH IN THE AMU. THIS FAILURE MODE PREVENTS THE RELEASE OF THE PARK BRAKES. THE SCDE OPERATES 879 OF THESE UNITS. CONCERN: WHEN THIS TYPE OF FAILURE OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN NO LONGER RELEASE THE PARK BRAKES. SCHOOL BUS DRIVERS ARE TRAINED TO SET THE PARK BRAKES EACH TIME THEY ARE LOADING/UNLOADING STUDENTS. IN MOST CASES THERE IS NO WARNING OR INTERMITTENT FAILURE. FAILURES OF THIS TYPE LEAVE THE BUS AND STUDENTS SITTING IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD CREATING A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION. THE BUS CAN NOT BE MOVED FROM THE ROADWAY UNTIL A TECHNICIAN IS DISPATCHED TO MANUALLY RELEASE THE PARK BRAKES AND ALLOW THE BUS TO MOVE. THE STUDENTS MUST THEN BE OFF LOADED ONTO A SPARE BUS BEFORE CONTINUING THE ROUTE. BACKGROUND: THE AMU WAS PREVIOUSLY INVOLVED IN SAFETY RECALL FL538 A-B FOR THE BRAKE LIGHT SWITCH MODULE FAILURE. WE ARE NOW EXPERIENCING PROBLEMS W/ FAILURES ON THE PARK BRAKE MODULE. WHEN THIS PROBLEM WAS BROUGHT TO MY ATTENTION, I HAD OUR STAFF PULL INSTALLATION INFORMATION FOR THE PART NUMBERS INVOLVED FROM ALL 45 MAINTENANCE FACILITIES. TO DATE OUR RECORDS INDICATE THAT WE HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE FAILURE ON 139 BUSES OR 16% OF THE 879 UNITS IN OUR FLEET. THESE UNITS ARE IDENTIFIED IN THE ATTACHED EXCEL FILE.

TRANSMISSION COOLER IN RADIATOR LEAKED CAUSING REPLACEMENT OF RADIATOR. ANTI-FREEZE BACK FLUSHED INTO THE TRANSMISSION CAUSING CONTAMINATION AND TRANSMISSION ALSO NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. TOTAL COST $5,751.00 TO A BUS TWO YEARS OLD WITH 30,000 MILES. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 THOMAS BUILT BUSES SAF-T-LINER C2 BUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE EXTERIOR REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V205000 (PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:AIR) REGARDING THE AIR MANAGE UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 THOMAS BUILT BUSES SAF-T-LINER C2 BUS. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 35 MPH, THE EXTERIOR REAR BRAKE LIGHT FAILED TO ILLUMINATE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED INTERMITTENTLY. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID NUMBER 06V205000 (PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:AIR) REGARDING THE AIR MANAGE UNIT. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED, BUT THE FAILURE CONTINUED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS UNAVAILABLE AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 32,000.