Recall 21V113 affects 14 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses for a Vandalock emergency-exit defect. Free repair at a franchised dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 14 2022 Minotour school buses with the optional rear door Vandalock system because the engine can start while an emergency exit is still locked. A locked exit can delay passengers during an emergency and increase injury risk, and Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The rear emergency door on the 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is an escape exit for students and passengers. On buses equipped with the optional Vandalock system, the lock and ignition interlock are supposed to work together. If the rear emergency exit is locked, the bus should not start.
On affected Minotour buses, the Vandalock interlock circuitry can be overridden under a limited set of inputs. That means the engine can start even though the emergency exit remains locked. The bus then fails the safety rule that requires emergency exits to be available for release, because a locked rear exit can slow evacuation after a crash or other emergency.
There is no warning sign before failure. The driver is not told by a symptom, noise, or warning light that the interlock has been bypassed, so the issue is the locked exit itself, not a change in how the bus drives.
Who's affected?
| 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 14 |
| 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?
A locked emergency exit can slow evacuation during an emergency and increase passengers' risk of injury. Treat any exit or interlock problem as a reason to keep the bus out of passenger service until a dealer checks it. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free Vandalock interlock repair that keeps the rear emergency exit from staying locked while the engine starts.
- Reference recall number 21V113 and Thomas Built Buses recall FL-876 when you call the dealer.
- Bring the owner notice if you have it, and ask the dealer to confirm the rear emergency exit unlocks before the bus returns to service.
- Confirm the rear emergency exit is unlocked before each trip until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician repairs the Vandalock interlock system for the rear emergency door so the bus cannot be started while that exit remains locked. The recall repair is free, and parts and labor are covered. The service desk can identify recall FL-876 when scheduling the work and confirm the vehicle is included by VIN before the bus is brought in.
Timeline
| February 24, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 22, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
| April 24, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| April 24, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 24, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V113?
Recall 21V113 covers 14 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses equipped with the optional rear door Vandalock system. The engine can start while an emergency exit is still locked, which fails the bus emergency exit standard and can delay passengers in an emergency. Dealers will repair the interlock system for free.
What should I do if my 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm this specific bus is included in recall 21V113. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the Vandalock interlock repair. Reference recall number 21V113 and Thomas Built Buses recall FL-876 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Thomas Built Buses dealers will repair the Vandalock interlock system free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for buses included in recall 21V113.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is delayed passenger exit during an emergency. If the rear emergency exit remains locked after the engine starts, students and other passengers have less access to an escape route, increasing injury risk in a crash, fire, or other emergency stop.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V113000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V113 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V113000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →