RecallMyCar

1997 Thomas Vista Recalls, Complaints & Specs

4 safety recalls list the 1997 Thomas Vista. Check your own VIN below.

4
safety recalls
0
owner complaints to NHTSA

4 safety recalls for the 1997 Thomas Vista

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

  1. 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

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

No owner complaints on file

NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1997 Thomas Vista. 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 Vista model years

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

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

Checking a specific 1997 Thomas Vista

How do I know if my 1997 Thomas Vista 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. 4 campaigns currently list the 1997 Thomas Vista; 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 00V362000).

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.