NHTSA Recall 18V698000: Escape/egress/exit (structure)
Daimler Trucks North America LLC reported this safety recall to NHTSA on , covering an estimated 701 vehicles. It affects 2015–2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour.
| NHTSA campaign | 18V698000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer campaign | FL-797 |
| Component | STRUCTURE › EMERGENCY › ESCAPE/EGRESS/EXIT |
| Report received | October 5, 2018 |
| Owner notification | June 28, 2019 |
| Initiated by | Manufacturer |
Defect
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2016-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses with 36" or 39" wide seats. The rear emergency exit door may not open wide enough to meet the unobstructed emergency egress area requirements. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."
Safety risk
If the emergency exit door does not open wide enough, it may limit the ability to exit the bus, increasing the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.
Remedy
DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will modify the rear door slide system, increasing the angle that the door can open, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on November 8, 2018. The recall began June 28, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-797.
Notes
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Vehicles covered by recall 18V698000
Being listed here means the campaign covers the model year, not that every car was built with the defect or is still unrepaired. Enter your VIN above to check your specific vehicle. Recall repairs are free at authorised dealers. Source: NHTSA, October 2026.