Recall 18V698 covers 701 2015-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour buses for rear emergency exit clearance. Free repair at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 701 2015-2019 Minotour school buses with 36-inch or 39-inch seats because the rear emergency exit door does not open wide enough to meet federal emergency-exit rules. In an emergency, that reduced opening can limit evacuation and increase injury risk; Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The rear emergency exit door on a 2015-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is supposed to open far enough to give occupants a clear path out of the bus. It is part of the emergency escape system, so the opening has to stay clear when the door is released. The concern is not the latch or handle, but the usable space around the open door.
On affected Minotour school buses, 36-inch or 39-inch wide seats installed within 10 inches of the back wall create an interference point near the upper hinged side of the rear door. That interference reduces the unobstructed opening for emergency exit use. The bus can be built correctly and still fall short of the required escape area because of that seat position.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or driver is unlikely to notice the problem during normal use because it shows up when the rear emergency exit opening is checked for clearance.
Who's affected?
Spans 5 model years for the Minotour, all tied to the emergency exit and egress structure.
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body or structural component |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body or structural component |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body or structural component |
| 2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body or structural component |
| Units affected | 701 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents 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?
An emergency exit door that does not open wide enough can limit evacuation from the bus and increase the risk of injury during an emergency. If your VIN is included, schedule the rear door slide system repair soon. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free rear-door slide modification that lets the emergency exit door open wider.
- Bring the recall notice if Thomas Built Buses mailed one. If not, reference recall number 18V698 when you call.
- Avoid passenger service until the repair is complete if the rear emergency exit door does not open fully.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician modifies the rear door slide system so the rear emergency exit door opens at a larger angle. That change is meant to give the Minotour the required emergency exit opening area. The recall repair is available, and parts and labor are free. The dealer should use campaign 18V698 or DTNA recall number FL-797 when matching the bus to the repair instructions.
Timeline
| October 5, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 3, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| December 3, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 3, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| June 28, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V698?
Recall 18V698 covers 701 2015-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses with 36-inch or 39-inch wide seats. The rear emergency exit door does not open wide enough to meet FMVSS 217 emergency-egress requirements, which increases injury risk during an emergency.
What should I do if my 2015-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V698. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the rear door slide system modification. Reference recall number 18V698 or DTNA recall FL-797 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to complete the recall repair at no cost. For this recall, the dealer modifies the rear door slide system so the emergency exit door opens at a wider angle, free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is restricted emergency exit space at the rear door. If the door does not open wide enough, passengers have less unobstructed room to leave the bus during an emergency, increasing injury risk. Recall 18V698 addresses that by changing the rear door slide system.
When did owner notices go out for recall 18V698?
DTNA issued an interim owner notification on November 8, 2018, and the recall began on June 28, 2019. Owners can contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 and ask about recall FL-797.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V698000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V698 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V698000 |
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 →