Complaints over time
Complaints about the 2004 Thomas FS-65 peaked in 2008, with 1 filed
Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Model year
2004 Thomas FS-65
Bus, diesel, 4x2, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Jan 21, 2008 to Jan 21, 2008.
Recall campaigns covering this model year25,630 vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints1Close to the median 2004 bus
Severity index100.02004 buss average 19.2
First 24 months0Complaints in its first two years
Components
100% of complaints about the 2004 Thomas FS-65 name electrical system
Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls
2 recall campaigns cover the 2004 Thomas FS-65
Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.
| Campaign | Filed | Subject | Component | Vehicles | Remedy |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 05V-426 | Sep 20, 2005 | Certain freightliner custom chassis fs-65 school bus chassis and fb-65 shuttle bus chassis equipped with caterpillar c7 engines and revised… | Brakes | 1,630 | Repair or modification |
| 04T-023 | Dec 22, 2004 | Certain michelin xde commercial truck tires, size 10r22.5 lrg and lrf for use on freightliner school and transit buses | Tires | 4,000 | Part replacement |
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints
What owners reported about the 2004 Thomas FS-65
The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
1 complaint on file, page 1 of 1.
- Filed Jan 21, 2008Failure Jan 4, 200841,867 milesAvon, INElectrical systemFire
AFTER START-UP WHEN VEHICLE WAS IDLING FOR APPROXIMATELY 20 MINUTES STARTED SMOKING FROM UNDERNEATH THE DASH PANEL. IT WAS APPROXIMATELY MINUTES 10 LATER WHEN THE FIRE WAS FIRST NOTICED; TIME LINE IS THE BEST WE CAN DETERMINE FROM VIDEO FOOTAGE. FIRE DEPARTMENT ARRIVED 10 MINUTES LATE AND THE BUS WAS CONSUMED BY FLAMES. THE BUS WAS DESTROYED BEYOND REPAIR. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10215554
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations
1 NHTSA investigation on file
- EA07002 Engineering analysis, Steering
STEERING COLUMN WELD CRACKS
Opened Jan 30, 2007, closed Jul 12, 2007 · led to a recall
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins
1 manufacturer communication cover this model year
Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.
- 51R3 Feb 14, 2008 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
THOMAS BUILT BUSES: THERE HAVE BEEN REPORTS OF THE FORWARD DOOR LEAF HEX SHAFT BREAKING. *PE
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.