Seat belts › Front
- Summary
- Movable part of seat is not strong enough to support the seat belt.
- Consequence
- Seat belt may not properly restrain driver.
- Remedy
- Install a tether strap.
1981 Thomas Thomas recalls
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
6 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026
For the 1981 Thomas Thomas. These apply to the model and year, not to one particular vehicle: check your VIN to see whether yours is included and whether it has been repaired.
Has your Thomas been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Thomas dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.
1981 Thomas Thomas recalls, newest first
Structure
- Summary
- Luggage rack above the seats protrudes into the upper limit of the head impact zone.
- Consequence
- Buses do not comply with FMVSS 222.
- Remedy
- Reposition luggage rack.
Structure › Body
- Summary
- Opening the roof hatch past 90 degrees can disengage the hinge pin retainer ring allowing the hinge pins to work out.
- Consequence
- Roof hatch could separate from the bus and injureindividuals in the vicinity.
- Remedy
- Install two hinge pins to prevent roof hatch separation.
Structure
- Summary
- Sanders were installed without reinforcement plates at point where mounting angle brackets are attached to the bus body floor channel. Floor channel may crack, possibly allowing the sander to become detached from the bus body floor channel. Consequence of defect: if sander becomes detached it will pose a safety hazard to other vehicle on the highway.
- Remedy
- Install reinforcement plates to prevent cracking of floor channel.
Exterior lighting › Turn signal › Switch
- Summary
- The turn signal mechanism in the steering column may break; the broken piece may become jammed in the steering column. While using the turn signal and turning in either direction, the operator may experience either increased steering effort in the turn, or binding in the steering wheel when the wheel is returned to a straight position.
- Remedy
- A replacement switch will be made available to owners; owner has the option to make the repair himself or have it done by a dealer. There will be no charge to the owner for the switch or the repair.
Suspension › Rear › Springs › Leaf spring assembly › U-bolt, leaf spring to axle
- Summary
- Certain "u" shaped bolts used to attach the axles to the springs, when installed and tightened to specifications, may be stretched beyond the yield point of the material and could break.
- Remedy
- All units will have the "u" bolts replaced without charge. This includes nuts and lockwashers.
Owner complaints
No owner complaints about the 1981 Thomas Thomas were found in NHTSA’s complaint data.
Other Thomas Thomas years
Other 1981 Thomas models
Questions
- Does the 1981 Thomas Thomas have any recalls?
- 6 recalls found in NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026, covering: seat belts, structure, exterior lighting, suspension. Recalls apply to the model and year; whether a particular vehicle is included, and whether it has been repaired, depends on its VIN.
- How do I check if my 1981 Thomas Thomas recall has been fixed?
- Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask a Thomas dealer. Recall repairs are free. NHTSA's VIN search doesn't list recalls that were already repaired.
- How many complaints have owners filed about the 1981 Thomas Thomas?
- 0 complaints filed with NHTSA. Complaints are unverified reports from the public that NHTSA uses to decide what to investigate.