FL759 – Fire Extinguisher May Be Clogged or Inoperable – 2002-2017 Thomas Built Buses

January 30, 2018

Fire Extinguisher May Be Clogged or Inoperable

In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

 

NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V083

Manufacturer Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Components EQUIPMENT

Potential Number of Units Affected 606

 

Summary

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, FS65, and Minotour school buses, equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button ‘Pindicator’ Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

 

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 30, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 or Kidde customer service at 1-855-262-3540 or online at www.kidde.com and click on “Product Safety Recall” for more information. DTNA’s number for this recall is FL-759.

 

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

 

Check for Daimler Trucks North America Recalls

 

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Daimler Trucks
North America LLC

 

April 2018
NHTSA #17V-810 (Non-School Buses)
#18V-083 (School Buses)

 

IMPORTANT SAFETY RECALL
This notice applies to your vehicle(s) 

Subject: Kidde Fire Extinguishers

 

This notice is sent to you in accordance with the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.

Daimler Trucks North America LLC, on behalf of its Freightliner Trucks Division and its wholly owned subsidiaries, Western Star Truck Sales and Thomas Built Buses, has decided that a defect that relates to motor vehicle safety exists on specific Freightliner Cascadia, Century Class, Columbia and Coronado model vehicles; Western Star 4700, 4900, 5700, 5900, and 6900 model vehicles; and Thomas Built Buses Safe-T-Liner C2 or HDX, FS65, and Minotour model buses manufactured July 11, 2002, through August 19, 2016, and equipped with certain Kidde Safety fire extinguishers.

Certain fire extinguishers may become clogged or require excessive force to activate. In certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and/or render the product inoperable.

Kidde Safety will provide a replacement fire extinguisher at no charge. Contact Kidde directly toll free at (855) 271-0773 from 8:30 a.m.- 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday, or online at www.kidde.com for a new extinguisher. Please keep your original extinguisher until you receive the replacement.

If you have leased this vehicle, Federal law requires that you forward this notice to the lessee within 10 days. If you are a subsequent stage manufacturer, Federal law requires that you forward this notice to your distributors and retail outlets within five working days.

If you have questions about this Recall, please contact Kidde customer service at (855) 271-0773. If you are not able to have the defect remedied without charge and within a reasonable time, you may wish to submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE., Washington, DC 20590; or call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at (888) 327-4236 (TTY: 800-424-9153); or to https://www.safercar.gov.

 

WARRANTY CAMPAIGNS DEPARTMENT
Enclosure

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Defect Information Report

(Section 5738)

 

FL-759

Date of Submission:	January 30, 2018
Manufacturer:	Daimler Trucks North America LLC P O. BOX 3849 Portland, Oregon 97208

 

Type of Report:

X Safety Defect

O Non-Compliance

 

Vehicle Information

Model Yr. Start:	2002	Model Yr. End:	2017
Make:	Thomas Built Bus
Model:	Saf-T-Liner C2, FS65, Saf-T-Liner HDX, MinoTour
Production Dates:	Begin:	04/15/2002
	End:	12/11/2015

 

Descriptive Information:

School buses equipped with certain Kidde disposable fire extinguishers.

 

Number potentially involved: 606 Estimated percentage of involve with defect: Unknown

 

Defect / Noncompliance Description

For this Defect/Noncompliance:

Describe the defect or noncompliance: Kidde states per NHTSA recall 17E-062 “The fire extinguishers may become clogged or require excessive force to activate. In certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable.”

If a noncompliance, provide the applicable FMVSS:

O Check if this recall only affects products in certain geographic regions.

 

Describe the safety risk:

Kidde states per NHTSA recall 17E-062 “If a fire extinguisher does not function properly, it is possible that someone could be injured or killed in a fire.”

 

If applicable, identify the manufacture of the defective or noncompliant component.

Kidde Safety
1016 Corporate Park Dr
Mebane NC 27302

 

Chronology of Defect / Noncompliance Determination

Provide the chronology of events leading up to the defect decision or test data for the noncompliance decision.:

In October 2017, DTNA became aware of a potential issue related to certain Kidde fire extinguishers.
DTNA began an investigation to determine the scope and consequences of the issue. In November 2017, Kidde releases CPSC Recall 18-022 and NHTSA Recall 17E-062. In December 2017, DTNA decided to initiate a voluntary safety recall for non-school vehicles equipped with potentially defective Kidde fire extinguishers. Late December, Kidde informs DTNA that certain Canadian specified fire extinguishers may have been installed in certain Thomas Built Bus school buses. In January 2018, further investigation revealed that certain US school buses were also equipped with the affected Canadian fire extinguishers. In January 2018, DTNA decided to initiate a voluntary safety recall for school buses equipped with potentially defective Kidde Canadian specified fire extinguishers.

 

Identify the Remedy

Describe the defect/noncompliance remedy program, including the manufacture’s plan for reimbursement. Kidde will provide a replacement extinguisher. Copies of the reimbursement plan will be submitted as a supplemental report when available.

 

Identify the Recall Schedule

Describe the recall schedule for notifications.:

Kidde will notify affected owners via customer notification letter by first class mail using Daimler Trucks North America records. Kidde will report quarterly completion rates on behalf of Daimler Trucks North America.

Planned Dealer Notification Begin Date:	03/30/2018
Planned Dealer Notification End Date:	03/30/2018

 

Planned Owner Notification Begin Date:	03/30/2018
Planned Owner Notification End Date:	03/30/2018

 

Manufacture’s identification code for this recall (if applicable): FL-759

 

Manufactures Comments to NHTSA Staff

Owner notification will be conducted by Kidde using contact information supplied by DTNA. Quarterly reports will be submitted by Kidde on behalf of DTNA.

DTNA Representative;

 

Andy Jones
Manager
Compliance and Regulatory Affairs

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64 Affected Products

Vehicles

THOMAS BUILT BUSES	FS-65	2002-2017
THOMAS BUILT BUSES	MINOTOUR	2002-2017
THOMAS BUILT BUSES	SAF-T-LINER C2	2002-2017
THOMAS BUILT BUSES	SAF-T-LINER HDX	2002-2017

 

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8 Associated Documents

Manufacturer Notices(to Dealers,etc)

RCMN-18V083-3710.pdf 131.186KB

 

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ISSUED Owner Notification Letter(Part 577)

RCONL-18V083-4088.pdf 16.846KB

 

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Miscellaneous Document- 573 Recall Report

RMISC-18V083-0742.pdf 1411.751KB

 

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Recall Acknowledgement

RCAK-18V083-8183.pdf 246.305KB

 

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Defect Notice 573 Report

RCLRPT-18V083-6699.pdf 216.048KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #1, 2018-2

RCLQRT-18V083-6347.PDF 214.53KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #2, 2018-3

RCLQRT-18V083-6061.PDF 211.246KB

 

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Recall Quarterly Report #3, 2018-4

RCLQRT-18V083-3653.PDF 211.331KB

 

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Latest Recalls Documents

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/acms/cs/documentList.xhtml?docId=18V083&docType=RCL

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