Preliminary Evaluation · Closed
FAN DRIVE UPDATE
Manufacturer: THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
This investigation led to a recall
NHTSA links this probe to recall campaign 02V085000.
Read the recall: what is defective and the free fix →What NHTSA is examining
In october 2001, thomas built buses sent out a vehicle owner notification (von) to bus owners outlining procedures for the proper alignment and replacement of the engine's fan drive components.directions in the communication require that the idler pulley, belt tensioner, and the fan belt will need to be replaced.presumably, this action was being recommended to eliminate fan belt separations while the buses are in service.a fan belt separation would result in the ngine overheating and ultimately stalling.as a result of this action, odi contacted two fleets and determined that they had suffered disabled buses on the shoulder of the road as a result of a fan belt failure.on february 12, 2001, odi opened thie preliminary evaluation to understand the extent of the failures and the rationale for conducting an owner notification program in lieu of a safety recall campaign.on march 15, 2002, thomas built filed a defect report outlining their plans to conduct a safety recall to notify the remaining owners and remedy the affected school buses.this investigation is closed.
Vehicles under investigation
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation records, updated daily. An investigation is not a determination that a defect exists; many probes close without a recall.