1994 Thomas Conventional Recalls, Complaints & Specs

9 safety recalls list the 1994 Thomas Conventional. Check your own VIN below.

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9 safety recalls for the 1994 Thomas Conventional

Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.

1. Unknown or other

   NHTSA 00V360000 Reported November 3, 2000 11,500 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

   Vehicle description: certain school buses equipped with a storage compartment overhead to the left of the driver fail to meet FMVSS no. 222, "school bus passenger seating and crash protection."

   Remedy: Dealers will add padding to the sides of the storage compartment. Owner notification began february 8, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…

2. Exterior (visibility)

   NHTSA 98V309000 Reported December 7, 1998 500 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

   Vehicle description: school buses built on a navistar chassis. The cross view mirrors do not comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 111, "rearview mirrors." the entire top surface of cylinder h is not visible as required.

   Remedy: Owners will be provided with a repair kit and detailed instructions. If an owner so desires, thomas built dealers can perform the repair for them.

3. Body (structure)

   NHTSA 97V031000 Reported March 5, 1997 24,082 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

   Vehicle description: school buses equipped with outward opening service doors. The possibility exists for an item worn by a child, such as a long drawstring, sash, or backpack/bookbag accessory, can become caught in a small opening at the floor level of the forward door post.

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect the forward door post to verify that the opening is completely eliminated, and if necessary, will install sealant in any remaining portion of the opening.

4. Body (structure)

   NHTSA 96V139000 Reported July 23, 1996 120,371 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

   An item worn by a child, such as a long drawstring, sash, or backpack/bookbag accessory, can become caught in the area between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket.

   Remedy: A molded cover will be installed between the manually operated outward opening entrance door and the door control rod attaching bracket which will eliminate the opening that could allow an item of a child's clothing to…

5. Body (structure)

   NHTSA 96V105000 Reported June 17, 1996 6,358 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

   An item worn by a child, such as a long drawstring, sash, or backpack/bookbag accessory can become caught in a small opening at the floor level of the forward door post.

   Remedy: A filler plate will be attached on thomas conventionals or a piece of rubber trim on thomas vistas to the forward door post at the floor level to cover the opening and eliminate the possibility of snagging.

6. Glass, side/rear (visibility)

   NHTSA 95V087000 Reported May 1, 1995 350 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

   The roof hatches on these buses do not meet the exterior handle requirements of FMVSS no. 217, "bus window retention and release."

   Remedy: Dealers will remove the existing roof hatch lid and replace it with a lid equipped with an exterior handle.

7. Air conditioner (equipment)

   NHTSA 95V042000 Reported March 3, 1995 50 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

   The air conditioning hose covers do not meet the head impact requirements of FMVSS no. 222, "school bus passenger seating and crash protection."

   Remedy: Dealers will reroute the cover from the head impact zone and also replace the metal cover with a plastic cover.

8. Retractor (seat belts)

   NHTSA 95V004000 Reported January 11, 1995 3,076 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

   The metal housing of the safety belt retractors on automatic locking retractor/emergency locking retractor safety belts can become deformed preventing extension and/or retraction of the belt.

   Remedy: Dealers will install a hardened washer which will decrease the possibility of deformation of the safety belt retractor. Damaged retractors will be replaced.

9. Labels (equipment)

   NHTSA 94V171000 Reported September 7, 1994 206 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

   Retroflective markings on required emergency exits do not meet the location requirements of FMVSS no. 217, "bus window retention and release."

   Remedy: Dealers will install additional reflective tape around each emergency door's outside perimeter.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1994 Thomas Conventional. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.

Compare Thomas Conventional model years

Recall and complaint counts for every Thomas Conventional model year in NHTSA's database.

Checking a specific 1994 Thomas Conventional

Other Thomas models

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• Saf-T-Liner5 complaints
• C23 complaints
• FS-653 complaints
• CL1002 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.