RecallMyCar

1981 Thomas Minotour Recalls, Complaints & Specs

3 safety recalls list the 1981 Thomas Minotour. Check your own VIN below.

3
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

3 safety recalls for the 1981 Thomas Minotour

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

  1. Body (structure)

    NHTSA 97V117000 Reported 8,187 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    Vehicle description: school buses equipped with manually operated outward opening entrance doors. An item worn by a child, such as a long drawstring, sash, or backpack/bookbag accessory, can becomecaught in the area between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket.

    Remedy: These buses were originally included in recall campaign 96v-139. However, the repair did not eliminate the potential snagging point between the service door and the door control rod attaching bracket. Therefore, owners…

  2. Body (structure)

    NHTSA 96V139000 Reported 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…

  3. Leaf spring assembly (suspension)

    NHTSA 82V050000 Reported 185 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    The gross axle weight rating listed on the certification plate for the front springs is incorrect. Some vehicles have front springs rated at 2950 lbs. And passenger capacity at greater than 15 passengers. This combination may result in the front springs being overloaded by 150 lbs. When these vehicles are loaded to maximun capacity.

    Remedy: Dealer will replace the front springs with 3100 lb. Front springs at no cost to owner.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1981 Thomas Minotour. 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 Minotour model years

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1977 Thomas Minotour20
1978 Thomas Minotour20
1979 Thomas Minotour20
1980 Thomas Minotour60
1981 Thomas Minotour30
1982 Thomas Minotour40
1983 Thomas Minotour30
1984 Thomas Minotour30
1985 Thomas Minotour30
1986 Thomas Minotour20
1987 Thomas Minotour20
1988 Thomas Minotour20
1989 Thomas Minotour20
1990 Thomas Minotour30
1991 Thomas Minotour30
1992 Thomas Minotour50
1993 Thomas Minotour70
1994 Thomas Minotour90
1995 Thomas Minotour70
1996 Thomas Minotour60
1997 Thomas Minotour20
1998 Thomas Minotour20
1999 Thomas Minotour20
2000 Thomas Minotour30
2001 Thomas Minotour20
2002 Thomas Minotour50
2003 Thomas Minotour20
2004 Thomas Minotour20
2005 Thomas Minotour20

Checking a specific 1981 Thomas Minotour

How do I know if my 1981 Thomas Minotour has an open recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 3 campaigns currently list the 1981 Thomas Minotour; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Thomas dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 82V050000).

What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?

A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.

Other Thomas models

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.