Preliminary Evaluation · Closed
SIDE ELECTRICAL FUSE PANEL FIRES
Manufacturer: THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
This investigation led to a recall
NHTSA links this probe to recall campaign 07V544000.
Read the recall: what is defective and the free fix →What NHTSA is examining
The office of defects investigation (odi) opened this investigation after becoming aware of two school bus fires that started in the side mounted electrical fuse panel on a pair of thomas built school buses.thefleet owner had reported the bus interiors filled with smoke, certain electrical devices became inoperative, and the buses stalled. The two buses involved in the fire incidents have consecutive vin numbers and the fires were similar, but not identical to a previous recall (06v-136) conducted by thomas built.these buses were not included in the prior recall, which involved a defective power distribution module (pdm).after further technical evaluation, freightliner decided they would conduct a safety recall to correct deficiencies in theprevious recall and also expand the population to capture all affected buses.the corrective action freightliner plans to take will be forwarded to odi when available. Accordingly, 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.