Vehicle recall 97V117000 · July 25, 1997

1977-1996 Thomas Minotour

Vehicle description: school buses equipped with manually operated outward opening entrance doors.

Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.

Summary: Vehicle description: school buses equipped with manually operated outward opening entrance doors. An item worn by a child, such as a long drawstring, sash, or backpack/bookbag accessory, can becomecaught in the area between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket.
Consequence: If an item worn by a child were to catch on this area, and the driver were to close the door and put the vehicle in motion, this can result in in serious injury or death.
Remedy: These buses were originally included in recall campaign 96V-139. However, the repair did not eliminate the potential snagging point between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket. Therefore, owners are being renotified to inspect the orientation of the door control. If the door control does not match the orientation described in the renotification letter, the owner will be instructed to remove the existing control and the original recall repair part, reoirient the door control, and reinstall the recall repair part.
Notes: Owner notification began October 6, 1997.OWNERS who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact thomas built at 1-910-889-4871.ALSO contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393.

Recall details

NHTSA campaign: 97V117000
Reported to NHTSA: July 25, 1997
Filed by: THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
Owner notification: October 6, 1997
Vehicles potentially affected: 8,187
Initiated by: the manufacturer
Components: Structure › Body

Recall 97V117000 on nhtsa.gov, with the manufacturer’s documents

Vehicles covered

As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.

Thomas Minotour (1977-1996): 1996, 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992, 1991, 1990, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1984, 1983, 1982, 1981, 1980, 1979, 1978, 1977

Has your Thomas been repaired?

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