FL876 – Emergency Exit May Remain Locked/FMVSS 217 – 2022 Thomas Built Minotour School Buses

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Defect Information Report
(Section 573.6)
FL-876
Date of Submission: February 24, 2021
Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC
P.O. BOX 3849
Portland, Oregon 97208
Type of Report: ⃝ Safety Defect X Non-Compliance
Vehicle Information
Model Yr. Start: 2022 Model Yr. End: 2022
Make: Thomas Built Buses
Model: Minotour
Production Dates: Begin: 06/20/2020 End: 09/14/2020
Type: Buses, Medium & Heavy Duty Vehicles
Descriptive Information: Minotour School Buses built on model year 2021 Ford chassis with optional rear door Vandalock
Number potentially involved: 14 Estimated percentage of involve with defect: 100%
Defect / Noncompliance Description
For this Defect/Noncompliance:
Describe the defect or noncompliance: On the affected vehicles, there is a potential that the engine can be started while an emergency exit remains locked, contrary to FMVSS 217 S5.2.3.3.
If a noncompliance, provide the applicable FMVSS: 217 – Bus emergency exits and window retention and release
Describe the safety risk: A non-compliance with FVMSS 217 S5.2.3.3 may delay exiting of the bus in an emergency and increase the risk of injury.
Identify any warning which can precede or occur: NA
If applicable, identify the manufacture of the defective or noncompliant component. NA
Involved Components
Component Name: Vandalock – Rear Emergency Door With Interlock & Barrel Bolt
Component Option Number: B51850200
Chronology of Defect / Noncompliance Determination
Provide the chronology of events leading up to the defect decision or test data for the noncompliance decision.: In December 2020 during a review of a Minotour bus built on a new model year chassis, Thomas Built discovered that—contrary to previous indications that it was not possible to start the vehicle with the Vandalock emergency exit device locked—it was possible to start the vehicle while the Vandalock was engaged in certain very limited circumstances. Thomas Built Buses Engineering promptly began an investigation into the interlock system on this bus to understand the issue. TBB Engineering continued the investigation and contacted the chassis manufacture to get information on the vehicle starting system and discovered that, given an unusual set of inputs, the ignition interlock could be overridden. In January 2021 Thomas Built Buses began to identify buses built with the same option combinations that were present on the bus that initially exhibited the issue. On February 18, 2021 DTNA decided to conduct a voluntary non-compliance recall on certain Minotour buses equipped with a Vandalock.
Identify the Remedy
Describe the defect/noncompliance remedy program, including the manufacture’s plan for reimbursement. The circuitry of the Vandalock interlock system will be modified. Repairs will be performed by Daimler Trucks North America authorized service facilities. Details of the reimbursement plan will be included in the owner’s notification letter.
Identify the Recall Schedule
Describe the recall schedule for notifications.: Customer notification will be made by first class mail using Daimler Trucks North America records to determine the customers affected.
Planned Dealer Notification Begin Date: 04/24/2021
Planned Dealer Notification End Date: 04/24/2021
Planned Owner Notification Begin Date: 04/24/2021
Planned Owner Notification End Date: 04/24/2021
Manufacture’s identification code for this recall (if applicable): FL-876
DTNA Representative;
Larissa Stoffels
Executive Manager, Vehicle Safety
Compliance and Regulatory Affairs

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Amended
Defect Information Report
(Section 573.6)
FL-876
Date of Submission: May 20, 2021
Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC
P.O. BOX 3849
Portland, Oregon 97208
Type of Report: ⃝ Safety Defect X Non-Compliance
Vehicle Information
Model Yr. Start: 2022 Model Yr. End: 2022
Make: Thomas Built Buses
Model: Minotour
Production Dates: Begin: 06/20/2020 End: 09/14/2020
Type: Buses, Medium & Heavy Duty Vehicles
Descriptive Information: Minotour School Buses built on model year 2021 Ford chassis with optional rear door Vandalock
Number potentially involved: 14 Estimated percentage of involve with defect: 100%
Defect / Noncompliance Description
For this Defect/Noncompliance:
Describe the defect or noncompliance: On the affected vehicles, there is a potential that the engine can be started while an emergency exit remains locked, contrary to FMVSS 217 S5.2.3.3.
If a noncompliance, provide the applicable FMVSS: 217 – Bus emergency exits and window retention and release
Describe the safety risk: A non-compliance with FVMSS 217 S5.2.3.3 may delay exiting of the bus in an emergency and increase the risk of injury.
Identify any warning which can precede or occur: NA
If applicable, identify the manufacture of the defective or noncompliant component. NA
Involved Components
Component Name: Vandalock – Rear Emergency Door With Interlock & Barrel Bolt
Component Option Number: B51850200
There is no defect in the design or manufacture of the Vandalock components. The defect is due to the integration of the component into the vehicle by Thomas Built Buses.
Chronology of Defect / Noncompliance Determination
Provide the chronology of events leading up to the defect decision or test data for the noncompliance decision.: In December 2020 during a review of a Minotour bus built on a new model year chassis, Thomas Built discovered that—contrary to previous indications that it was not possible to start the vehicle with the Vandalock emergency exit device locked—it was possible to start the vehicle while the Vandalock was engaged in certain very limited circumstances. Thomas Built Buses Engineering promptly began an investigation into the interlock system on this bus to understand the issue. TBB Engineering continued the investigation and contacted the chassis manufacture to get information on the vehicle starting system and discovered that, given an unusual set of inputs, the ignition interlock could be overridden. In January 2021 Thomas Built Buses began to identify buses built with the same option combinations that were present on the bus that initially exhibited the issue. On February 18, 2021 DTNA decided to conduct a voluntary non-compliance recall on certain Minotour buses equipped with a Vandalock.
Identify the Remedy
Describe the defect/noncompliance remedy program, including the manufacture’s plan for reimbursement. The circuitry of the Vandalock interlock system will be modified. Repairs will be performed by Daimler Trucks North America authorized service facilities. Details of the reimbursement plan will be included in the owner’s notification letter.
Identify the Recall Schedule
Describe the recall schedule for notifications.: Customer notification will be made by first class mail using Daimler Trucks North America records to determine the customers affected.
Planned Dealer Notification Begin Date: 04/24/2021
Planned Dealer Notification End Date: 04/24/2021
Planned Owner Notification Begin Date: 04/24/2021
Planned Owner Notification End Date: 04/24/2021
Manufacture’s identification code for this recall (if applicable): FL-876
DTNA Representative;
Larissa Stoffels
Executive Manager, Vehicle Safety
Compliance and Regulatory Affairs

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