RecallMyCar

Thomas Vista Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 16 safety recalls and 1 owner complaint across 24 model years of the Thomas Vista (1977–2000). The most-complained-about year is 1995.

16
safety recalls, all years
1
owner complaints, all years
1994
year with most recalls
1995
year with most complaints

Pick your Thomas Vista model year

Model yearRecallsComplaints
2000 Thomas Vista20
1999 Thomas Vista30
1998 Thomas Vista40
1997 Thomas Vista40
1996 Thomas Vista50
1995 Thomas Vista61
1994 Thomas Vista90
1993 Thomas Vista70
1992 Thomas Vista40
1991 Thomas Vista40
1990 Thomas Vista20
1989 Thomas Vista10
1988 Thomas Vista10
1987 Thomas Vista10
1986 Thomas Vista10
1985 Thomas Vista10
1984 Thomas Vista10
1983 Thomas Vista10
1982 Thomas Vista10
1981 Thomas Vista10
1980 Thomas Vista10
1979 Thomas Vista10
1978 Thomas Vista10
1977 Thomas Vista10

What Thomas Vista owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. The 1995 model year has the most, with 1.

All Thomas Vista recalls (16)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Thomas Vista, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

  1. Door (structure)

    NHTSA 16V395000 Reported 24,698 vehicles potentially affected Daimler Trucks North America LLC

    Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 1998-2002 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Conventional, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner ER, 2000-2017 Saf-T-Liner MVP-EF, 1998-1999 Vista, 2003 Saf-T-Liner FS65, 2013-2017 Saf-T-liner C2, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner MVP-ER, 2013-2017 Saf-T-Liner HDX. In the affected vehicles, the…

    Remedy: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will either replace the stems or protect them against corrosion, free of charge. An interim notice was sent to owners on July 28, 2016. A second notice was mailed to owners on…

    Model years: 1998, 1999

  2. Seats

    NHTSA 00V380000 Reported 37 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    Vehicle description: certain school buses equipped with kinedyne l series button track seating, fail to comply with FMVSS no. 222, ""school bus passenger seating and crash protection." incorrect fasteners were used to secure the button track to the bus floor.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the incorrect fasteners with the correct attachment hardware.

    Model years: 1999, 2000

  3. Seats

    NHTSA 00V362000 Reported 6,500 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    Vehicle description: certain school buses and transit buses equipped with national seating's series 93b-sb driver seat. A bracket attaching the gas spring shock to the height adjuster of the seat can deform and break. This bracket is located at the top of the height adjuster.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat base and add reinforcement to the seat assembly

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

  4. Exterior (visibility)

    NHTSA 98V309000 Reported 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.

    Model years: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

  5. Seats

    NHTSA 98V229000 Reported 4,300 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with national seating series 93b-sb driver seat. A bracket attaching to the height adjusting shock absorber on the driver's seat can deform and break.

    Remedy: Dealers will add a reinforcement to the bracket, or if the bracket is deformed and/or broken, the entire seat base will be replaced.

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998

  6. Seats

    NHTSA 97V192000 Reported 2,391 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    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.

    Model years: 1995, 1996, 1997

  7. 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…

    Model years: 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996

  8. Body (structure)

    NHTSA 96V105000 Reported 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.

    Model years: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

  9. Anchorage (seat belts)

    NHTSA 95V135000 Reported 17 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    The wrong attachment bolts were used on the driver's seat. This does not comply with FMVSS no.209, "seat belt assemblies."

    Remedy: Dealers will remove the noncomplying 5/16" bolts from the anchorages and replace them with 7/16" bolts.

    Model years: 1995

  10. Glass, side/rear (visibility)

    NHTSA 95V087000 Reported 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.

    Model years: 1994, 1995

  11. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 95V041000 Reported 804 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    The bracket used to support the hydraulic brake line can crack and possibly sever the brake line.

    Remedy: Dealers will reroute the hydraulic brake line.

    Model years: 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994

  12. Heater core (visibility)

    NHTSA 95V040000 Reported 2,133 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    If paper or trash falls down the red DOT heater vents it could ignite.

    Remedy: Dealers will install a wire cage around the heater resistor.

    Model years: 1993, 1994

  13. Air conditioner (equipment)

    NHTSA 95V042000 Reported 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.

    Model years: 1994

  14. Retractor (seat belts)

    NHTSA 95V004000 Reported 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.

    Model years: 1993, 1994

  15. Labels (equipment)

    NHTSA 94V171000 Reported 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.

    Model years: 1994

  16. Glass, side/rear (visibility)

    NHTSA 93V013000 Reported 24,570 vehicles potentially affected THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.

    The current production stationary window assemblies allow the glass to disengage from the rubber and/or frame.

    Remedy: Install two retaining clips at each non-complying window.

    Model years: 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993

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.