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Campaign 16V103 Posted February 23, 2016 2,323 units

2012-2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Recall 16V103: BCM

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published May 31, 2026

Recall 16V103 affects 2,323 2012-2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses for body-control-module wiring defects. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.

Thomas Built Buses is recalling 2,323 2012-2017 Minotour school buses because the body control module can fail and cut exterior lighting or windshield wiper function. Loss of lights or wipers can reduce visibility and increase crash risk; Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.

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What's wrong?

The body control module on 2012-2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses built on a GM chassis is an electronic control unit for basic body functions. It routes commands and power signals for equipment such as exterior lights and windshield wipers, so the driver can keep the bus visible and keep the windshield clear.

On affected Minotour buses, the body control module can fail. The recall record ties the problem to the GM chassis electrical setup, and GM later issued upfitter wiring guidance for this issue. When the module fails, exterior lighting or windshield wiper operation can drop out intermittently or stop completely. That leaves the driver without normal lighting or wiper function until the fault is repaired.

There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or maintenance team first notices the problem when lights flicker, lights stop working, wipers cut in and out, or wipers stop responding.

Who's affected?

Across the 2012-2017 range, each listed model year appears with exterior lighting and wiper-system components.

2016 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Exterior lighting
2016 Thomas Built Buses Minotour wiper system
2012 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Exterior lighting
2012 Thomas Built Buses Minotour wiper system
2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Exterior lighting
Units affected2,323

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?

Loss of exterior lighting or windshield wiper function reduces visibility for the driver and for other road users, increasing the risk of a crash. Schedule the wiring repair soon, especially before night driving or wet weather. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is included in this recall.
  2. Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free body-control-module wiring repair that fixes the exterior-lighting and windshield-wiper failure.
  3. Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions, and reference recall number 16V103 or Thomas Built Buses recall FL-701 when you call.
  4. Avoid trips in rain, snow, darkness, or other low-visibility conditions until the repair is complete.

What happens at the repair

At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician modifies the wiring to the body control module. That work addresses the electrical path tied to the exterior lighting and windshield wiper functions described in recall 16V103. Parts and labor are free under the recall. Before the bus leaves, ask the service desk to note the completed campaign on the repair order and confirm that the body control module wiring work is complete.

Timeline

February 23, 2016 NHTSA published the recall
April 18, 2016 Owner notification mailed
April 18, 2016 Dealer notification began
April 18, 2016 Dealer notification ended
April 18, 2016 Interim owner notification (was planned for this date)

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 16V103?

Recall 16V103 covers 2,323 2012-2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses built on a GM chassis with a body control module defect. The module can fail and cause intermittent or total loss of exterior lighting or windshield wiper function.

What should I do if my 2012-2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 16V103. If it is, contact a Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the body control module wiring modification. Reference recall 16V103 or FL-701 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 16V103, the dealer modifies the wiring to the body control module free of charge, including parts and labor.

What is the safety risk?

The safety risk is reduced visibility. If exterior lights or windshield wipers stop working, the driver has less visibility and other road users have less warning of the bus, increasing crash risk.

What warning signs should I watch for?

Watch for intermittent exterior lighting, exterior lights that stop working, windshield wipers that cut in and out, or windshield wipers that stop working. Those signs point to the body control module issue described in recall 16V103.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V103000
Thomas Built Buses customer service1-800-547-0712
NHTSA recall #16V103
NHTSA recall # (full)16V103000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →