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Campaign 18V157 Posted March 7, 2018 3,304 units

2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Recall 18V157: Lift

RN
Reviewed by the RecallNotify editorial team
Published May 25, 2026

Recall 18V157 covers 3,304 2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour buses for a wheelchair-lift wiring defect. Free repair at franchised dealers.

Thomas Built Buses is recalling 3,304 2007-2018 Minotour school buses built on GM chassis and equipped with wheelchair lifts because the lift can operate when the bus is in Neutral or Drive. That creates an injury risk for the lift user, and the dealer repair will be free once Thomas Built Buses makes it available.

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What's wrong?

The wheelchair lift on 2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses is the platform system used to load and unload passengers who use mobility devices. Its electrical controls are supposed to work with the bus shift position so the lift operates only when the bus is secured for loading. That interlock matters because students and attendants are close to the doorway while the lift is moving.

On affected buses, the lift wiring was not built consistently. DTNA traced the problem to a missing relay, inconsistent splice instructions, and wire color codes that did not match. A relay is an electrical switch; when it is missing or wired into the wrong circuit, the lift controls do not reliably block operation while the bus is in Neutral or Drive.

There is no warning sign before failure. The driver or attendant would only know something is wrong if the wheelchair lift operates while the bus is not fully secured for loading.

Who's affected?

Covers Minotour buses across the 2007-2018 model-year span listed for the adaptive equipment component.

2011 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Equipment adaptive/mobility
2008 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Equipment adaptive/mobility
2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Equipment adaptive/mobility
2016 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Equipment adaptive/mobility
2015 Thomas Built Buses Minotour Equipment adaptive/mobility
Units affected3,304

The model year narrows the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.

What's the safety risk?

If the wheelchair lift operates while the bus is not in Park, the lift user faces increased injury risk. Treat any lift movement outside Park as unsafe, stop using the lift, and arrange dealer inspection. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.

What should I do?

  1. Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is included in this recall.
  2. Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and ask whether the free wheelchair-lift electrical-connection inspection and correction is open for your bus.
  3. Reference recall number 18V157 when you call, and use the owner notice if Thomas Built Buses mailed one to you.
  4. Keep the bus in Park before operating the wheelchair lift until the repair is complete.
  5. Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with recall questions.

What happens at the repair

For recall 18V157, the described dealer repair is an inspection of the wheelchair lift wiring, followed by correction of the electrical connections if needed. Because the remedy status is still under development, do not assume the final repair appointment is open until Thomas Built Buses or the dealer confirms it. Once available, a Thomas Built Buses technician will complete the inspection and wiring correction free under the recall.

Timeline

March 7, 2018 NHTSA published the recall
May 5, 2018 Dealer notification began
May 5, 2018 Dealer notification ended
May 5, 2018 Interim owner notification (was planned for this date)
November 15, 2018 Owner notification mailed

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 18V157?

Recall 18V157 covers 3,304 2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses built on GM chassis and equipped with wheelchair lifts. The lift can operate while the vehicle is in Neutral or Drive, which increases injury risk for the lift user.

What should I do if my 2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is on this recall?

Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V157. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to inspect the wheelchair lift and correct the electrical connections. Reference recall 18V157 and DTNA recall number FL-761 when you call.

Is the recall repair free?

Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 18V157, dealers will inspect the wheelchair lift and correct the electrical connections as necessary free of charge.

What is the safety risk?

The risk is injury to the wheelchair lift user. If the lift operates while the bus is in Neutral or Drive instead of Park, the bus is not secured the way it should be during lift use.

Who do I call about recall 18V157?

Call a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and reference recall 18V157 and DTNA recall number FL-761. DTNA customer service is also listed for this recall at 1-800-547-0712.

More information

NHTSA campaign pagenhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V157000
Thomas Built Buses customer service1-800-547-0712
NHTSA recall #18V157
NHTSA recall # (full)18V157000

Source documents

This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →