1997 Thomas Saf-T-Liner Recalls, Complaints & Specs
3 safety recalls list the 1997 Thomas Saf-T-Liner. Check your own VIN below.
- 1977
- 1978
- 1979
- 1980
- 1981
- 1982
- 1983
- 1984
- 1985
- 1986
- 1987
- 1988
- 1989
- 1990
- 1991
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 1996
- 1997
- 1998
- 2000
- 2001
- 2002
3 safety recalls for the 1997 Thomas Saf-T-Liner
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Seats
Vehicle description: school buses. The flip seats installed on these buses do not meet the rearward push requirements of FMVSS no. 222, "school bus passenger seating and crash protection."
Remedy: Owners will be provided with repair parts and a detailed repair procedure. If an owner so desires, thomas built will perform the repair for them.
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Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)
Vehicle description: school and transit buses. If debris becomes trapped between the plastic cup, which seals the opening where the steering column comes through the bus floor and the steering knuckle, the steering linkage can bind.
Remedy: Owners are requested to remove the plastic seal which will leave an opening between the vehicle floor and the steering column. Thomas built is in the process of designing a proper seal for that area, and this seal will…
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Cables (electrical system)
Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with in-line six engine,"s" type frame rails and side mounted battery box. The battery cable routing allows the positive cable to chafe resulting in a possible short circuit of the cable.
Remedy: Thomas built will provide owners with repair parts and detailed repair procedures to secure the cable to prevent further damage. If the owner so desires, thomas built will perform the repair for them.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1997 Thomas Saf-T-Liner. 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 Saf-T-Liner model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Thomas Saf-T-Liner model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 1 | 0 |
| 1978 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 1 | 0 |
| 1979 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 2 | 0 |
| 1981 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 2 | 0 |
| 1982 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 3 | 0 |
| 1983 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 3 | 0 |
| 1984 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 3 | 0 |
| 1985 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 3 | 0 |
| 1986 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 3 | 0 |
| 1987 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 3 | 0 |
| 1988 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 5 | 0 |
| 1989 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 4 | 0 |
| 1990 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 5 | 0 |
| 1991 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 5 | 0 |
| 1992 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 7 | 0 |
| 1993 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 10 | 0 |
| 1994 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 13 | 0 |
| 1995 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 11 | 1 |
| 1996 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 10 | 0 |
| 1997 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 0 | 1 |
| 2000 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 2 | 1 |
| 2002 Thomas Saf-T-Liner | 0 | 2 |
Checking a specific 1997 Thomas Saf-T-Liner
How do I know if my 1997 Thomas Saf-T-Liner 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 1997 Thomas Saf-T-Liner; 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 97V133000).
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
- School Bus21 complaints
- Thomas11 complaints
- Bus7 complaints
- Mvp EF7 complaints
- C23 complaints
- FS-653 complaints
- CL1002 complaints
- Conventional2 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.