Hearth Record

Service brakes, air (Thomas)

Vehicle recall 97V-020. NHTSA received THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.’s report on Feb 18, 1997.

NHTSA’s own record, on nhtsa.gov

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The short answer

NHTSA received THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.’s report on Feb 18, 1997. Copied from NHTSA on Oct 28, 2026.

Every line below is in NHTSA’s own words, with its source beside it.

What’s wrong with it?

THESE BUSES DO NOT MEET THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121.

THESE BUSES WITH GROSS VEHICLE WEIGHT RATINGS (GVWR) OF 36,200, DO NOT MEET THE BRAKE SIZE AND POWER REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD (FMVSS) NO. 121, “AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS,” FOR VEHICLES OF THAT GVWR.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • NHTSA’s part: Service brakes, air.

What should you do?

THOMAS BUILT WILL PROVIDE THE OWNERS WITH REPAIR PARTS AND A DETAILED REPAIR PROCEDURE. THE REPAIR WILL CONSIST OF CHANGING THE ORIGINAL REAR SLACK ADJUSTERS AND FRONT BRAKE CHAMBERS AND INCREASING THE AIR RESERVOIR VOLUME.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • How to reach the firm: NOTES:OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JUNE 6, 1997. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REPAIR PARTS AND A DETAILED REPAIR PROCEDURE WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-910-889-4871.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-800-424-9393.
  • Check a vehicle by its VIN at NHTSA: the recalls still open on it are listed there.

Which ones are recalled?

NHTSA counts 55 vehicles potentially involved, across everything this recall names.

Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

  • Thomas SAF-T-Linerand 1995 and 1996, before the model years listed here

Who is recalling it?

  • Made by THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC..
Source:

NHTSA, Recalls flat file before 2010. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated daily.

What the record doesn’t say

  • NHTSA’s recall file doesn’t say whether anyone was hurt.
  • Whether one vehicle or seat has been fixed: only its maker, or NHTSA’s lookup with a VIN, can say.
  • This recall names only model years before 2015, which have no pages here. Your VIN, at NHTSA, says which recalls are open on a vehicle.
  • How many have been returned or fixed isn’t in the notice.
Source:

Hearth Record wrote these lines.

Sources

Source:

Vehicle, car seat, tire and vehicle equipment recalls, owner complaints and crash ratings are from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Copied on Oct 28, 2026.

How to read a record

Four things every record does, shown on an example record made up for this guide.

An example record, made up for this guide

An example nursing home

Made up for this guide: no real place is shown

Not fully inspected in over two years (CMS flag)

11 health citations at the latest inspection cycle

The state average is 14.3.

Source:

CMS, State and US Averages and Health Deficiencies. Released Oct 28, 2026. Updated monthly.

From the homeNone yet. Replies and paid listings aren’t open, and when they open they will sit here, below the record.

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Every fact names its source.

Who published it, when, and how often it changes sit beside each fact, with a link to the agency’s own file.

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