RecallMyCar

1981 Thomas Thomas Recalls, Complaints & Specs

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

6
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

6 safety recalls for the 1981 Thomas Thomas

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

  1. Seat belts: front

    NHTSA 88V176000 Reported 1,541 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    Movable part of seat is not strong enough to support the seat belt.

    Remedy: Install a tether strap.

  2. Structure

    NHTSA 88V134000 Reported 51 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    Luggage rack above the seats protrudes into the upper limit of the head impact zone.

    Remedy: Reposition luggage rack.

  3. Body (structure)

    NHTSA 87V096000 Reported 7,330 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    Opening the roof hatch past 90 degrees can disengage the hinge pin retainer ring allowing the hinge pins to work out.

    Remedy: Install two hinge pins to prevent roof hatch separation.

  4. Structure

    NHTSA 85V143000 Reported 96 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    Sanders were installed without reinforcement plates at point where mounting angle brackets are attached to the bus body floor channel. Floor channel may crack, possibly allowing the sander to become detached from the bus body floor channel. Consequence of defect: if sander becomes detached it will pose a safety hazard to other vehicle…

    Remedy: Install reinforcement plates to prevent cracking of floor channel.

  5. Switch (exterior lighting)

    NHTSA 84V130000 Reported 1,500 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    The turn signal mechanism in the steering column may break; the broken piece may become jammed in the steering column. While using the turn signal and turning in either direction, the operator may experience either increased steering effort in the turn, or binding in the steering wheel when the wheel is returned to a straight position.

    Remedy: A replacement switch will be made available to owners; owner has the option to make the repair himself or have it done by a dealer. There will be no charge to the owner for the switch or the repair.

  6. U-bolt, leaf spring to axle (suspension)

    NHTSA 81V043000 Reported 280 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    Certain "u" shaped bolts used to attach the axles to the springs, when installed and tightened to specifications, may be stretched beyond the yield point of the material and could break.

    Remedy: All units will have the "u" bolts replaced without charge. This includes nuts and lockwashers.

No owner complaints on file

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

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

Model yearRecallsComplaints
1973 Thomas Thomas10
1974 Thomas Thomas10
1975 Thomas Thomas10
1978 Thomas Thomas10
1979 Thomas Thomas20
1980 Thomas Thomas60
1981 Thomas Thomas60
1982 Thomas Thomas70
1983 Thomas Thomas70
1984 Thomas Thomas71
1985 Thomas Thomas70
1986 Thomas Thomas40
1987 Thomas Thomas30
1988 Thomas Thomas20
1991 Thomas Thomas06
1996 Thomas Thomas01
1998 Thomas Thomas01
1999 Thomas Thomas02

Checking a specific 1981 Thomas Thomas

How do I know if my 1981 Thomas Thomas 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. 6 campaigns currently list the 1981 Thomas Thomas; 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 81V043000).

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.