Recall 22V840 covers 20 2021-2023 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses for weak seat barriers. Free repair at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 20 2021-2023 Minotour school buses because the forward seat barrier behind the driver does not provide the required passenger protection. In a crash, occupants can hit the barrier with more force than intended, increasing injury risk; Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The left-side forward seat barrier on 2021-2023 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses sits behind the driver seat, ahead of the passenger seating area. Its job is to help manage passenger movement in a crash and provide the protection required for the bus seating layout. On a school bus, that barrier is part of the passenger crash-protection system, not trim.
The problem is the barrier installed on certain Minotour buses was the wrong barrier for buses configured with six rows of passenger seats. It was built for a different seating configuration, so it does not provide the required protection for this layout. That is why recall 22V840 is a noncompliance recall under the school bus seating and crash protection standard.
There is no warning sign before failure. Owners and fleet operators will not hear a noise, see a warning light, or feel a change while driving because the issue is the barrier's fit for the seating configuration.
Who's affected?
Spans three Minotour model years. The affected part is the left side barrier in the seat assembly.
| 2023 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat assembly |
| 2021 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 20 |
| 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?
In a crash, occupants can hit the front seat barrier with more force than intended, which raises the risk of injury. Confirm the VIN, then schedule the barrier replacement with the dealer. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2021-2023 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free forward-seat-barrier replacement.
- Bring the recall notice if Thomas Built Buses mailed one. If not, reference recall number 22V840 when you call.
- Keep the bus under your fleet's safety policy until the barrier replacement is complete.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions about the repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician replaces the forward seat barrier behind the driver. The replacement and labor are free under recall 22V840. If you already paid for a covered barrier repair before the reimbursement plan's cutoff date, Daimler Truck North America offers a refund through authorized dealers. Bring prior repair paperwork and ask the service desk to process the reimbursement under the recall.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 14, 2022 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 9, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
| January 12, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| January 12, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 12, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 22V840?
Recall 22V840 covers 20 2021-2023 Thomas Built Buses Minotour school buses with a forward seat barrier behind the driver that does not provide sufficient passenger protection. NHTSA campaign 22V840 says occupants can hit the barrier with more force than intended during a crash. Dealers will replace the barrier for free.
What should I do if my 2021-2023 Thomas Built Buses Minotour is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 22V840. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the forward seat barrier replacement. Reference recall number 22V840 or DTNA recall FL959 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 for recall 22V840 says dealers will replace the forward seat barrier free of charge. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is higher injury force for passengers in a crash. NHTSA campaign 22V840 says the forward seat barrier behind the driver does not provide enough protection, so occupants can collide with it with more force than intended. The fix is a free barrier replacement.
When were owners notified about recall 22V840?
DTNA mailed owner notification letters on January 9, 2023. If the bus changed owners or the letter never reached you, check your VIN to confirm whether the specific Minotour is included, then call a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer with recall number 22V840 or FL959.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/22V840000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 22V840 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 22V840000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (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 →