Complaints over time
Complaints about the 2005 Thomas FS-65 peaked in 2006, 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
2005 Thomas FS-65
Bus, diesel, 4x2, built in United States. Owner complaints on file from Feb 9, 2006 to May 5, 2008.
Recall campaigns covering this model year22,730 vehicles or units across those campaigns
Owner complaints22.0 times the median 2005 bus
Severity index0.02005 buss average 35.7
First 24 months1Complaints in its first two years
Components
100% of complaints about the 2005 Thomas FS-65 name lighting
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 2005 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-467 | Oct 5, 2005 | Certain 2005 thomas built fs-65 and c-2 school buses and 2005 freightliner argosy, columbia, century st, and m2 business class trucks manufactured… | Suspension | 1,100 | Part replacement |
| 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 |
Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints
What owners reported about the 2005 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.
2 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.
- Filed May 5, 2008Failure Apr 15, 200837,591 milesAvon, INExterior lighting
LED LIGHT STARTED SMOKING AND BURNED UP EMITTING SMOKE INSIDE THE BUS. THIS WAS THE SECOND INCIDENT WITH THIS TYPE OF LIGHT. *TR
NHTSA complaint 10226620 - Filed Feb 9, 2006Failure Aug 15, 2004Avon, INSwitch
I WRITING IN RESPONSE TO A SERVICE BULLETIN ISSUED BY FREIGHTLINER CUSTOM CHASSIS, SB 54-26. THIS SERVICE BULLETIN COVERS AN ISSUE WITH THE TURN SIGNAL CANCELLATION RING ON A 2005 MODEL THOMAS SCHOOL BUS. THE MANUFACTURER HAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED THE PART WHICH CANCELS THE TURN SIGNAL AFTER A TURN IS COMPLETED. DUE TO THE FACT THAT THIS PART WAS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED, IT IS IMPOSSIBLE AT TIMES TO SIGNAL WHEN MAKING A TURN, AS IS INDICATED IN THEIR SERVICE BULLETIN. I WAS NOT ABLE TO GET ANY INFORMATION ON THIS DEFECT UNTIL MY 19 SCHOOL BUSES WERE OUT OF THEIR WARRANTY PERIOD. I BELIEVE THIS SERVICE BULLETIN SHOULD BE UPGRADED TO A RECALL DUE TO THE SAFETY FACTOR INVOLVED. NO ONE HAS BEEN INJURED AS A RESULT OF THIS DEFECT, BUT I FEEL THIS PROBLEM SHOULD BE CORRECTED AND THE MANUFACTURER SHOULD TAKE FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THEIR NEGLIGENCE BEFORE AN ACCIDENT RESULTS FROM IT. *NM
NHTSA complaint 10149848
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
2 manufacturer communications cover this model year
Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.
- PS-13-8 Nov 29, 2010 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
THOMAS BUILT BUS: ALL MODELS OF THOMAS BUSES USING AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTERS. THE AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTERS ARE ROUTINELY BEING ADJUSTED BY SOME OPERATORS AND SERVICE TECHNICIANS TO MAKE BRAKE PUSHROD STROKE APPEAR TO BE WITH LEGAL BRAKE ADJUSTMENT LIMITS… - 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.