Recall 11V517 affects 90 2011-2012 Thomas Built Buses Minotour and Ef buses for emergency-window handle rivets. Repair is free at Thomas Built Buses service facilities.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 90 2011-2012 Minotour and Ef school buses because incorrect rivets were used on emergency vertical push-out window handles. If a handle detaches outside an emergency, the window cannot be re-secured and children are at risk of falling or climbing out; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The emergency vertical push-out window on 2011-2012 Thomas Built Buses Minotour and Ef school buses is an exit window. In normal use, the handle gives an occupant a firm place to pull so the window opens during an emergency. The handle has to stay attached because the window depends on that force reaching the latch and frame.
On affected buses, incorrect rivets were used to attach those handles. Rivets are the small fasteners that clamp the handle to the window assembly. If the rivets do not hold the handle securely, the handle can loosen or separate when someone pulls it. That leaves the occupant without the intended way to open the emergency window.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is in the handle attachment, so a driver or owner will not feel it during normal driving unless the window handle is inspected or pulled.
Who's affected?
Covers Minotour and Ef buses from the 2011 and 2012 model years, all tied to the same body door hinge and attachment structure.
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Ef | body structure |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Ef | body structure |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body structure |
| Units affected | 90 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the emergency window handle is used outside an emergency and detaches, the window cannot be re-secured. That creates a risk of children falling or climbing out. In an emergency, the exit window still opens and egress through the window is not hindered. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2012 Thomas Built Buses Minotour or Ef is included in this recall.
- Contact Thomas Built Buses customer service or a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to ask whether the free repair is open for your bus.
- Ask for the emergency-window handle-rivet repair that keeps the push-out window secured after a non-emergency handle pull.
- Reference recall number 11V517 when you call or schedule service.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and keep students away from the emergency window handles until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At a Thomas Built Buses authorized service facility, a technician repairs the affected emergency vertical push-out windows. The issue is the rivets used to attach the window release handles, the handles occupants use to open the window during an emergency. The filing says authorized service facilities perform the repairs free of charge, and the recall began on December 8, 2011. Contact the service facility with the campaign number so they can confirm the bus and the window repair before scheduling.
Timeline
| October 26, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 8, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V517?
Recall 11V517 covers 90 2011-2012 Thomas Built Buses Minotour and Ef school buses with emergency vertical push out window handles attached with incorrect rivets. Thomas Built Buses authorized service facilities will perform the repair for free.
What should I do if my 2011-2012 Thomas Built Buses Minotour or Ef is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 11V517. If it is, contact a Thomas Built Buses authorized service facility and reference recall 11V517 when you schedule the window handle repair. The repair is free.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost to the owner. For recall 11V517, Thomas Built Buses authorized service facilities will complete the emergency window handle repair free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 11V517?
The risk is tied to the emergency window handle. If the handle detaches during a non emergency situation, the window cannot be re secured, creating a risk that children can fall or climb out. The recall repair fixes the handle attachment.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V517000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V517 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V517000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (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 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →