Defect
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.
1984 Thomas Built Thomas Recalls
Recalls on record Updated July 2026
The 1984 Thomas Built Thomas has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns affecting an estimated 12,113 vehicles. Recall repairs are always free at any authorized dealer. Owners have filed 2 complaints with NHTSA, most often about the service brakes, hydraulic. Last updated July 5, 2026.
Recall campaigns
Defect
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.
Defect
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.
Defect
HEATER HOSE MAY CHAFE PRIMARY AND/OR SECONDARY HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES AT THE MASTER CYLINDER.
Consequence
HYDRAULIC BRAKE LINES COULD RUPTURE AND LOSE FLUIDRESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKING POWER.
Remedy
INSTALL PROTECTIVE BRACKET AT MASTER BRAKE CYLINDER TO PREVENT THE HEATER HOSE FROM CONTACTING THE BRAKE LINES.
Defect
THE BODY IS SUBJECT TO SHIFT FORWARD DURING AN IMPACT AND THE FUEL FILLER HOSE AND/OR FUEL VENT LINE HOSE MAY SEPARATE FROM EITHER THE FUEL FILLER NECK OR THE GAS TANK. THIS DOES NOT COMPLY WITH FMVSS 301. CONSEQUENCE OF…
Remedy
INSTALL NEW FUEL FILLER AND VENT LINE HOSES, WHICH ARE CAPABLE OF BEING STRETCHED BEYOND THE EXTENT TO WHICH THE BODY COULD SHIFT FORWARD DURING A 30 MPH FRONTAL IMPACT.
Defect
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. …
Remedy
INSTALL REINFORCEMENT PLATES TO PREVENT CRACKING OF FLOOR CHANNEL.
Defect
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…
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.
Complaints by component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER
TIRES
Total complaints2
What owners report
Verbatim reports filed with NHTSA, lightly edited for readability and with personal information removed.
“Ongoing problem with calipers holding down/ keep coming off, and bolts keep shearing off. Problem occurring on all four tires, and reoccurred 4-5 times a year. Manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that this vehicle was not covered under recall. Please feel free to provide any further…”
“Ongoing problem with calipers holding down/ keep coming off, and bolts keep shearing off. Problem occurring on all four tires, and reoccurred 4-5 times a year. Manufacturer notified, and informed consumer that this vehicle was not covered under recall. Please feel free to provide any further…”
Sources & methodology
Recall, complaint, and investigation records from official NHTSA datasets (FLAT_RCL, FLAT_CMPL, FLAT_INV), synced weekly. Counts reflect NHTSA records for the 1984 Thomas Built Thomas as of July 5, 2026. Complaint narratives are consumer-submitted and unverified. This page contains ads and affiliate links. Full methodology.