Recall 10V393 affects 4,179 2004-2010 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses for power cable chafing. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 4,179 2004-2010 Minotour school buses because main body power cables were routed near an unprotected inner-fender edge. If a cable rubs through its insulation, it can short circuit, start a vehicle fire, and injure occupants, and the dealer repair will be free once Thomas Built Buses makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The main body power cables on 2004-2010 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses carry battery power from the chassis into the bus body electrical system. Those cables help feed lights and other body circuits, so their insulation has to stay intact while the bus moves and vibrates.
On affected Minotour buses, those cables were routed near an unprotected edge on the passenger-side inner fender. When a cable contacts that sharp edge during normal use, the edge wears through the cable insulation. Once the protective covering is gone, exposed wire can create a short circuit.
There is no warning sign before failure. The recall information does not identify a dashboard light, smell, sound, or visible symptom that gives the driver advance notice before the cable insulation is worn through.
Who's affected?
Spans seven model years (2004-2010), all tied to the same battery-cable component.
| 2005 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | battery |
|---|---|
| 2007 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | battery |
| 2009 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | battery |
| 2006 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | battery |
| 2008 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | battery |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | battery |
| 2004 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | battery |
| Units affected | 4,179 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
A short circuited power cable can start a vehicle fire and injure occupants. Treat this as a safety repair, not a routine electrical issue. Schedule the inspection and repair with the dealer and limit use until the cable is checked. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2004-2010 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is included in this recall.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 or a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and ask whether recall 10V393 is open for your bus.
- Schedule the free inspection and power-cable rerouting or replacement that keeps the main body power cable away from the sharp inner-fender edge.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 10V393 when you call.
- Keep the bus out of passenger service until Thomas Built Buses confirms the cable routing has been inspected and repaired.
What happens at the repair
The repair plan calls for a Thomas Built Buses technician to inspect the main body power cables near the passenger side inner fender, where the cable routing brought them close to an unprotected edge. If the inspection finds contact, wear, or routing that leaves the cable exposed to that edge, the technician reroutes the cable and replaces damaged cable parts as needed. The dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall.
Timeline
| September 2, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 16, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V393?
Recall 10V393 covers 4,179 2004-2010 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses built on Ford chassis with main body power cables routed near an unprotected passenger side inner fender edge. NHTSA campaign 10V393 says cable insulation wear can lead to a short circuit, vehicle fire, and occupant injury.
What should I do if my 2004-2010 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V393. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer or Daimler Trucks at 1-800-547-0712 to arrange inspection, cable rerouting, and replacement as needed. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the recall remedy states that inspection, cable rerouting, and replacement as needed are performed free of charge by Thomas Built Buses service channels.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is fire and injury to people in the bus. NHTSA campaign 10V393 says a main body power cable can rub against a sharp passenger side inner fender edge, wear through its insulation, and create a short circuit.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V393000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V393 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V393000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →