Recall 18V158 covers 14 2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour with wheelchair lifts operating outside Park. Repair is free at a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 14 2007-2018 Minotour transit buses built on GM chassis with wheelchair lifts because the lift can operate while the vehicle is in Neutral or Drive. That creates an injury risk for the lift user, and Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The wheelchair lift on 2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour buses is adaptive mobility equipment that raises and lowers a passenger using a wheelchair. Its control wiring is supposed to work with the bus controls so the lift operates only when the vehicle is secured. That lockout matters because the lift creates an opening and a moving platform at the side of the bus.
On affected Minotour buses built on a GM chassis, the lift circuit was not wired as intended. A missing relay, inconsistent splice directions, or mismatched wire color codes can leave the safety lockout incomplete. The result is that the wheelchair lift can be operated while the bus is in Neutral or Drive.
There is no warning sign before failure. An operator will not necessarily see a warning light or fault message before the lift accepts a command while the bus is not properly secured.
Who's affected?
The included model years run from 2007 through 2018, with the same adaptive/mobility equipment component listed for each.
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2007 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2009 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 14 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
The year and model narrow the search, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
A wheelchair lift that operates before the bus is in Park can move while the vehicle is not secured, increasing injury risk for the lift user. Confirm the bus is in Park before lift use and schedule the inspection. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free wheelchair-lift electrical inspection and connection repair, which addresses lift operation when the bus is not in Park.
- Keep the bus in Park before operating the wheelchair lift until the repair is complete.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. Reference recall number 18V158 when you call.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions about the dealer repair.
What happens at the repair
At a Thomas Built Buses authorized service facility, a Thomas Built Buses technician inspects the wheelchair lift wiring and electrical connections. If the lift wiring is connected in a way that lets the lift operate while the bus is in Neutral or Drive, the technician corrects those connections. The recall repair is free, including the inspection, electrical correction, and related labor.
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 18V158?
Recall 18V158 covers 14 2007-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour transit buses built on GM chassis and equipped with wheelchair lifts. The lift can operate while the bus is in Neutral or Drive, increasing the risk of injury to 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 18V158. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the wheelchair lift inspection and electrical connection correction. Reference recall number 18V158 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. A franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer will inspect the wheelchair lift and correct the electrical connections as needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is injury to the lift user. If the wheelchair lift operates while the bus is in Neutral or Drive instead of Park, the lift user faces increased injury risk during loading or unloading. The dealer repair corrects the lift's electrical connections.
When did owner notices go out?
Thomas Built Buses issued an interim owner notification on April 26, 2018, and the recall began November 15, 2018. Those dates have passed, so owners should use the VIN check and contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer for the free repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V158000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V158 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V158000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
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 →