Recall 19V170 affects 410 2003-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses for wheelchair lift wiring. Repair is free at franchised Thomas Built Buses dealers.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 410 2003-2019 Minotour school buses built on Ford chassis with a specific wheelchair lift option. After the key is turned off, the lift can operate without the parking brake engaged; if the bus is in neutral, it can move and increase the risk of injury, and the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The wheelchair lift on 2003-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses is the equipment used to raise and lower a passenger using a wheelchair. Its parking-brake interlock is supposed to act as a safety lock. The lift should operate only when the bus is secured with the parking brake engaged.
On these Minotour buses, residual voltage remains in the interlock wiring after a specific sequence: the parking brake is set, the ignition is turned off, and then the parking brake is released. That leftover voltage lets the interlock malfunction. As a result, the wheelchair lift can still operate even though the parking brake is not engaged.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is in the interlock circuit, so the driver or attendant would only discover it if the lift operates when it should be locked out.
Who's affected?
Spans Minotour buses across the 2003-2019 model years, all tied to the same adaptive or mobility equipment component.
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2005 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2009 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2007 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2006 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2008 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2003 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2004 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 410 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
The injury risk is tied to lift use while the vehicle is in neutral with the ignition and parking brake off. In that state, the vehicle can move while someone is using the wheelchair lift. Before operating the lift, confirm the vehicle is secured and call the dealer for repair guidance. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2003-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is included in this recall.
- Review the Thomas Built Buses owner notice for repair instructions; the recall began December 20, 2019.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions and reference recall number 19V170.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer about the free wheelchair-lift wiring-harness repair that stops lift operation without the parking brake engaged.
- Use the wheelchair lift only with the parking brake set until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
Once the repair is available, a Thomas Built Buses technician will modify the wheelchair lift wiring harness so the lift does not operate in the recalled condition. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Ask the service desk to confirm the recall is open for your VIN before arranging service, and give them campaign 19V170 if needed. The year range alone does not decide eligibility.
Timeline
| March 5, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 3, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| May 3, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 3, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 20, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V170?
Recall 19V170 covers 410 2003-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses built on a Ford chassis with a specific wheelchair lift option. The lift wiring can allow operation without the parking brake engaged after the key is off, and dealers modify the wiring harness for free.
What should I do if my 2003-2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 19V170. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the wheelchair lift wiring harness modification. Reference recall number 19V170 or FL-811 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 this recall, Thomas Built Buses dealers modify the wheelchair lift wiring harness free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is unintended vehicle movement during wheelchair lift use. If the bus is in neutral with the ignition off and the parking brake off, using the lift increases the risk of injury. Until the repair is complete, set the parking brake before using the lift.
What if I bought this Minotour used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether your Minotour is included, then call a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer with recall number 19V170 or FL-811.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V170000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V170 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V170000 |
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 →