1992 Thomas School Bus: recalls and complaints

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 1992 Thomas School Bus. The newest campaign is 96V080000. NHTSA received the report on 6 May 1996. The NHTSA record gives the component Structure / Body. NHTSA has no complaint on file for this model year. 1 NHTSA investigation names this model year.

The NHTSA recall file shows no do-not-drive advisory and no park-outside advisory on these campaigns.

This page cannot show if a recall applies to one vehicle. The NHTSA VIN lookup shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle.

Remedy of the newest campaign, 96V080000, in the NHTSA record

Dealers will install hinge pads to prevent the snagging of passenger's clothing.

NHTSA VIN lookup

Complaint information entered into NHTSA’s Office of Defects Investigation vehicle owner's complaint database is used with other data sources to identify safety issues that warrant investigation and to determine if a safety-related defect trend exists.
NHTSA publishes these words. Source: NHTSA Datasets and APIs, section Complaints, read on 1 Oct 2026. Complaint file through 29 Mar 2018. Recall file through 29 Sep 2026.

Since the last update

No tracked figure of this page changed in a data update. What the log tracks

All updates to the register

Recall campaigns

10 campaigns, newest first. 176,993 units in total.

96V0800006 May 1996Structure / Body
96V06500015 Apr 1996Structure / Body
96V05400026 Mar 1996Structure / Body
94V09200013 May 1994Equipment / Other / Labels
93V03200129 Mar 1993Structure / Body
93V0290003 Mar 1993Seats
93V0130001 Jan 1993Visibility / Glass, Side/Rear
92V1260008 Sep 1992Seats
92V07800019 May 1992Service Brakes, Air / Supply / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
92V0130003 Jan 1992Visibility / Glass, Side/Rear

96V080000Received 6 May 1996. 13,545 units.
Structure / Body
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The door hinges were not shielded and can snag exiting children's clothing or accessories.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Dealers will install hinge pads to prevent the snagging of passenger's clothing.
Report filed by THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 16 Sep 1996.
96V065000Received 15 Apr 1996. 37,717 units.
Structure / Body
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The fasteners used to secure the mounting foot of either forward or rearward handrails could be installed in such a manner as to allow the possibility that the nut used in NHTSA's handrail inspection procedure will catch between the fasteners.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
A passenger's clothing could become caught in the handrail, and if 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.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.
Report filed by THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 12 Jun 1996.
96V054000Received 26 Mar 1996. 4,500 units.
Structure / Body
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from being caught.
Report filed by THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 5 Jun 1996.
94V092000Received 13 May 1994. 423 units.
Equipment / Other / Labels
Defect, in the NHTSA record
A decal warning of the potential danger in using starting fluid to start the engine was omitted.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Ignition of the starter fluid by the heating element can result in an explosion causing engine damage and personal injury.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Customers will be sent warning decals and installation instructions.
Report filed by THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 Aug 1994.
93V032001Received 29 Mar 1993. 87,000 units.
Structure / Body
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.
Report filed by THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 15 Nov 1993.
93V029000Received 3 Mar 1993. 188 units.
Seats
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The safety belt anchorage bolts do not comply with the requirements of FMVSS 210, "seat belt assembly anchorages". The seat anchorages could not maintain load of 5,000 lbs for 10 seconds.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The safety belts might not adequately protect seatoccupants in the event of a sudden stop or accident.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace the anchorage bolts with bolts of a larger diameter, which meet the load requirements of FMVSS 210.
Report filed by THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 17 Mar 1993.
93V013000Received 1 Jan 1993. 24,570 units.
Visibility / Glass, Side/Rear
Defect, in the NHTSA record
The current production stationary window assemblies allow the glass to disengage from the rubber and/or frame.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The windows do not comply with FMVSS 217, "bus windowretention and release."
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Install two retaining clips at each non-complying window.
Report filed by THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 13 Aug 1993.
92V126000Received 8 Sep 1992. 1,526 units.
Seats
Defect, in the NHTSA record
Incorrect screws were used to attach the plywood seat back to the seat frame.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
The driver's seat back does not meet the strengthrequirements of FMVSS 207, "seating system". Should the seat back fail whilethe bus is in motion, the operator could lose control of the bus.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Remove incorrect screws attaching the plywood back to the seat frame and install proper screws.
Report filed by THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 18 Dec 1992.
92V078000Received 19 May 1992. 24 units.
Service Brakes, Air / Supply / Hoses, Lines/Piping, and Fittings
Defect, in the NHTSA record
A brake air line plumbing error causes the spring brakes to be applied without brake application when the air pressure in the primary tank drops to a level which automatically activates the spring brake system.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
Activation of the spring brake system without operatorbrake application will cause the spring brake to be applied, locking the brakeswithout any warning to the operator.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Replace and reroute air brake hose to comply with FMVSS 121.
Report filed by THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC..
92V013000Received 3 Jan 1992. 7,500 units.
Visibility / Glass, Side/Rear
Defect, in the NHTSA record
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.
Consequence, in the NHTSA record
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.
Remedy, in the NHTSA record
Remove the old center actuator and install an improved actuator.
Report filed by THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.. Owner notification date in the NHTSA record: 23 Oct 1992.

The campaign number opens the NHTSA record. Each quotation is the text of the NHTSA recall file.

Recall campaign: One recall in the NHTSA recall file, with one campaign number. A campaign can name many makes, models and model years.

Units: The number of vehicles or products that a recall can include. The manufacturer or the firm reports the number to the agency.

Complaints by component

The NHTSA complaint file has no complaint for this model year.

Investigations

NHTSA investigations that name the 1992 Thomas School Bus
Number	Type	Subject	Component	Opened	Closed	Campaign
PE93053	Preliminary evaluation	ELECTRICAL FIRE	Electrical System	26 May 1993	30 Aug 1993

Investigation: A study of a possible safety defect by the NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. An investigation with no closing date in the NHTSA file is open.

Other model years

The number under each year is the number of recall campaigns.

A year without a link has fewer than 2 campaigns and fewer than 25 complaints. It has no page.

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Official channels

NHTSA VIN lookupNHTSA shows the unrepaired recalls of one vehicle from its VIN or its license plate.
NHTSA: report a safety problemThe NHTSA form for a complaint about a vehicle, a tire, a child seat or equipment.
NHTSA page of the 1992 Thomas School BusThe recalls, the complaints and the investigations that NHTSA shows for this model year.

Cite this page

Recall Register. 1992 Thomas School Bus: recalls and complaints. https://recallregister.com/vehicle/thomas/school-bus/1992/. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall, complaint and investigation files. Data through 29 Sep 2026.

Sources

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
Licence: US government work, public domain
Recall file through: 29 Sep 2026
Complaint file through: 29 Mar 2018
First complaint in the file: 1 Jan 1995
Manufacturer in the recall file: THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

The NHTSA record is the authority. A complaint count is the number of different complaint numbers for the make, the model and the model year. How the register is made. Report an error.

Questions

How many units are in the recall campaigns for the 1992 Thomas School Bus?: 176,993 units in 10 campaigns. A campaign can name other models and model years, and its units include them.
How many recall campaigns does the Thomas School Bus have for all model years?: NHTSA lists 22 recall campaigns for the Thomas School Bus, model years 1977 to 2004. 10 of them name the 1992 model year.
Is an NHTSA investigation of the 1992 Thomas School Bus open?: No. The 1 investigation that names this model year has a closing date in the NHTSA file.