Recall 18V301 covers 1,688 2002-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour buses with wheelchair lift interlock defects. Repair is free at a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 1,688 2002-2018 Minotour school buses because a missing relay in the wheelchair-lift interlock wiring harness can let the lift operate while the bus is in neutral or drive. If the bus moves while the lift is in use, there is an increased risk of injury; Thomas Built Buses dealers will repair the interlock wiring harness free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The wheelchair lift on 2002-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses is the powered platform used to raise and lower a passenger using a wheelchair. It is tied into an interlock circuit, a safety wiring system that is supposed to keep the bus from moving while the lift is being used.
On affected Minotour buses built on a Ford chassis, the interlock wiring harness is missing a relay. That relay is an electrical switch. Without it, the lift can operate when the transmission is in neutral or drive, so the bus is not locked in place during lift use.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner, driver, or technician would notice the problem only by testing whether the bus can move while the wheelchair lift is operating.
Who's affected?
The included Minotour buses share a listed build window from May 18, 2012 to January 9, 2018.
| 2005 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2009 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2002 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2007 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2006 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2003 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2004 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 1,688 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
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?
If the bus moves while the wheelchair lift is in use, a person using or assisting with the lift faces increased risk of injury. Keep the bus stopped and secured during lift operation, then arrange the dealer inspection and wiring correction. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2002-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free wheelchair-lift wiring inspection and repair that keeps the lift from operating while the bus is in neutral or drive.
- Reference recall number 18V301 and Thomas Built Buses recall FL-770 when you call.
- Bring the owner notice to the appointment if you have it.
- Avoid using the wheelchair lift while the bus is in neutral or drive until the wiring repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician inspects the wheelchair lift interlock wiring harness and checks whether the relay needed to lock out lift operation is present. If the relay or wiring is wrong, the technician corrects the wheelchair lift wiring so the lift cannot operate while the bus is in neutral or drive. The recall repair is free, and parts and labor are covered under campaign 18V301.
Timeline
| May 8, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 6, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| July 6, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 6, 2018 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| July 6, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| November 15, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V301?
Recall 18V301 covers 1,688 2002-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses built on a Ford chassis and equipped with an optional wheelchair lift. A missing relay in the interlock wiring harness can let the lift operate while the bus is in neutral or drive.
What should I do if my 2002-2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V301. If it is, contact a Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the wheelchair lift wiring inspection and correction. Reference recall number 18V301 and DTNA recall number FL-770 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to fix the defect at no cost, and DTNA's remedy says dealers will inspect the wheelchair lift wiring and correct it as necessary free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is injury while the wheelchair lift is being used. If the bus can move because the lift operates while the vehicle is in neutral or drive, a passenger, attendant, or nearby person faces increased injury risk. Keep lift use controlled until the wiring is inspected.
When did Thomas Built Buses start this recall repair?
The recall repair began November 15, 2019. DTNA also sent an interim owner notification on June 19, 2018. Since the remedy is available, owners can contact a Thomas Built Buses dealer or DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 for recall 18V301.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V301000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V301 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V301000 |
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 →