Recall 21V661 affects 669 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses for weak body joints. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 669 2022 Minotour school buses because adhesive between the lower interior side panel and the seat rail was not applied correctly, leaving the body joint too weak. In a crash, that weak joint increases the risk of injury, and Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The lower interior side panel on a 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school bus is part of the bus body inside the passenger compartment. It attaches near the seat rail, the structure that helps anchor the seating area to the body. Adhesive between the panel and the rail helps the joint hold together as the bus body flexes in normal service.
On affected Minotour school buses, that adhesive was not applied correctly between the lower interior side panel and the seat rail. Without a properly bonded joint, the connection has less strength than required by Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 221, "School Bus Body Joint Strength." The problem is an assembly issue, not ordinary wear from use.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner, driver, or maintenance shop is not expected to spot this by feel, sound, or a dashboard light because the defect is inside a body joint.
Who's affected?
| 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 669 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour bus is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
Insufficient cabin joint strength means the school bus body has less strength than required at that joint. In a crash, that weaker joint increases the risk of injury for occupants. Schedule the recall repair soon and keep service records with the bus. 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 fastener repair that strengthens the lower interior side panel and seat-rail joint.
- Bring the recall notice if Thomas Built Buses mailed one. If not, reference recall number 21V661 when you call.
- Ask the dealer whether to keep the bus out of passenger service until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician adds mechanical fasteners to the joint between the lower interior side panel and the seat rail. That added hardware is meant to strengthen the body joint that did not meet the school bus body joint strength requirement. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered by the campaign. The source record does not give a separate reimbursement path for owners who already paid for a related repair.
Timeline
| August 25, 2021 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 12, 2021 | Owner notification mailed |
| October 17, 2021 | Dealer notification began |
| October 17, 2021 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 17, 2021 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 21V661?
Recall 21V661 covers 669 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses with insufficient joint strength between the lower interior side panel and the seat rail. Thomas Built Buses dealers add mechanical fasteners to the joint for free.
What should I do if my 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 21V661. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule installation of the additional mechanical fasteners. Reference recall 21V661 or DTNA recall FL-899 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, and DTNA's remedy adds additional mechanical fasteners to the affected joint free of charge through the Thomas Built Buses dealer network.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is higher injury exposure in a crash. The recall involves school bus body joint strength: if the lower interior side panel and seat rail joint lacks enough strength, the cabin structure does not meet the required school bus body joint standard.
When were owners notified about recall 21V661?
DTNA expected owner letters to be mailed on October 17, 2021. If you operate or bought a used 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour and never received a letter, check your VIN and give the dealer recall 21V661 or FL-899.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/21V661000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 21V661 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 21V661000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (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 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →