Thomas Built Buses recall FL-713

Q: Is FL-713 the same recall as 16V407000?

Yes. FL-713 is Thomas Built Buses’s own number for it; 16V407000 is NHTSA’s. The manufacturer used the same number on 2 NHTSA filings, all listed above.

Thomas Built Buses calls it FL-713. NHTSA filed it as campaign 16V407000 and 1 other on Jun 7, 2016: structure on the 1998–2002 Thomas and Thomas Built Buses, 25,415 vehicles potentially affected. One recall, two numbers — the dealer quotes the manufacturer’s, the federal record carries NHTSA’s.

The full filing, 16V407000 →Check a VIN at NHTSA

What NHTSA has under this number

Source: 49 CFR Part 573 filings

NHTSA campaign	Vehicles	Component	Filed	Affected	Severity
16V407000	1998–2002 Thomas and Thomas Built Buses	Structure	Jun 7, 2016	717	high
16V395000	1998–2017 Thomas and Thomas Built Buses	Structure	Jun 2, 2016	24,698	high

Problem 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, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner MVP-EF, 2000-2001 CL-960, 1998-1999 Vista, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner MVP-ER, and 2000-2002 TL-960 transit buses. In the affected vehicles, the stem that connects the outside emergency door handle to the emergency door opening mechanism may corrode. Risk If the stem corrodes, the door handle could detach from the emergency door opening mechanism, delaying the opening of the door and the evacuation of the bus. In the event of an emergency, this may increase the risk of injury to the bus occupants. Fix 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 December 9, 2016 Parts are available. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-713.

The manufacturer’s own words as filed for 16V407000. Every model year it covers, the build window and the filed PDFs →

Two numbers, one recall

Every safety recall carries two identifiers. FL-713 is the number Thomas Built Buses assigned in its own system: it is what appears on the owner letter, on the dealer’s service screen and on the repair order. 16V407000 is the number NHTSA filed the same recall under when the manufacturer reported it, and it is the one every federal record, this site included, is keyed on.

The repair is free by federal law for vehicles up to fifteen years old. Whether one particular vehicle is included is settled by its VIN against the manufacturer’s build list, not by its model year.

Check one specific vehicle

Both lookups check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list and say whether the repair is still outstanding on that vehicle.

NHTSA VIN recall lookup →

Common questions

Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573

Is FL-713 the same recall as 16V407000?

Yes. FL-713 is Thomas Built Buses’s own number for it; 16V407000 is NHTSA’s. The manufacturer used the same number on 2 NHTSA filings, all listed above.

Which vehicles does FL-713 cover?

1998–2002 Thomas and Thomas Built Buses, 25,415 vehicles by the manufacturer’s count. A recall covers a build range, so the VIN decides whether one particular vehicle is in it.

Does the FL-713 repair cost anything?

No. The manufacturer must remedy a safety defect at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.