Recall 14V074 affects 570 2013-2015 Thomas Built Minotour buses with missing floor reinforcement channels. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built dealer.
Thomas Built is recalling 570 2013-2015 Minotour school buses because floor reinforcement channels under certain 3-passenger rear seats were left out during manufacturing. Without that added support, the floor can flex in a crash and seat occupants can lose restraint protection; the repair will be free at a Thomas Built dealer once available.
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What's wrong?
The rear 3-passenger seats in the 2013-2015 Thomas Built Minotour are bolted through the bus floor. Those seat mounts are supposed to work with floor reinforcement channels, which are added support pieces under the floor that spread seat loads into the bus structure. The seat belts depend on that same mounting structure because the belts restrain passengers through the seat assembly.
On these Minotour buses, the reinforcement channels for certain IMMI or S3C rear seats were left out during manufacturing. That means the seat mounting area does not have the added support it was designed to have. Under heavy loading, the floor and seat fasteners carry the force without the reinforcement that should be there.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or fleet mechanic will not feel a change in how the bus drives or see a dashboard warning from this defect.
Who's affected?
The same seat belt component applies across the included Minotour model years.
| 2015 Thomas Built Minotour | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2013 Thomas Built Minotour | seat belt |
| 2014 Thomas Built Minotour | seat belt |
| Units affected | 570 |
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?
In a crash, missing floor reinforcement channels can let the floor flex. Seat occupants are then less adequately restrained, increasing the risk of injury. Confirm whether your VIN is included and ask the dealer about repair scheduling before putting the bus back into regular service. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2013-2015 Thomas Built Minotour is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built dealer to ask about the free floor reinforcement channel installation that adds the missing support for the rear seat mountings.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 14V074 and Thomas Built recall FL-659 when you call.
- Avoid using rear 3-passenger seats for passengers until the floor reinforcement channels are installed.
- Call Thomas Built customer service at 1-800-385-4537 with questions about scheduling or recall paperwork.
What happens at the repair
The known repair is straightforward: at the dealer, a Thomas Built technician installs the missing floor reinforcement channels that support the rear seat mounting points. The dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall. The remedy record says the recall began on April 17, 2014, but this section does not have a current remedy status, so confirm the appointment path with a Thomas Built dealer before arranging service.
Timeline
| February 20, 2014 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 17, 2014 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 14V074?
Recall 14V074 covers 570 2013-2015 Thomas Built Minotour dual rear wheel school buses with certain 3-passenger IMMI or S3C rear seats. The floor reinforcement channels for those seat mounts were omitted during manufacturing, and Thomas Built dealers install the missing channels for free.
What should I do if my 2013-2015 Thomas Built Minotour is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 14V074. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built dealer to schedule installation of the missing floor reinforcement channels. Reference recall number 14V074 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 14V074, Thomas Built dealers install the missing floor reinforcement channels free of charge. The recall remedy began on April 17, 2014.
What is the safety risk in recall 14V074?
The safety risk is reduced seat restraint performance in a crash. Without the floor reinforcement channels, the bus floor can flex and seat occupants can be inadequately restrained, increasing injury risk. The repair adds the missing reinforcement channels at the affected seat mounts.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/14V074000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built customer service | 1-800-385-4537 |
| NHTSA recall # | 14V074 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 14V074000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (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 →