2000 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner ER Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Source: NHTSA · Updated Jun 7, 2016 · 1 owner complaints analyzed

Compared with other SAF-T-Liner ER years
Not enough data 1st of 8 for complaints
NHTSA crash rating
Not rated

Owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA about the 2000 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner ER. That is the most of any SAF-T-Liner ER model year in the database (8 years). The most reported problem area is structure (1 complaints, 100%), typically at around 129,000 miles. There are 3 safety recalls covering this model year.

Complaints are unverified owner reports and are not adjusted for sales volume.

Compare with another car

Most common 2000 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner ER problems

Complaints grouped by the part of the car owners reported, with the median mileage when the problem happened.

Structure1 · ~129,000 mi
Problem areaComplaintsShareMedian milesOwners mention mostTypical repair cost
Structure1100%129,000——

One complaint can list several problem areas, so shares can add up to more than 100%.

2000 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner ER recalls (3)

Tap a recall to see the problem, the risk and the fix.

Structure:body:doorJun 7, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V407000 · 717 vehicles

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 1998-2002 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Conventional, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner ER, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner MVP-EF, 2000-2001 CL-960, 1998-1999 Vista, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner MVP-ER, and 2000-2002 TL-960 transit buses. In the affected vehicles, the stem that connects the outside emergency door handle to the emergency door opening mechanism may corrode.

Risk: If the stem corrodes, the door handle could detach from the emergency door opening mechanism, delaying the opening of the door and the evacuation of the bus. In the event of an emergency, this may increase the risk of injury to the bus occupants.

Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will either replace the stems or protect them against corrosion, free of charge. An interim notice was sent to owners on July 28, 2016. A second notice was mailed to owners on December 9, 2016 Parts are available. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-713.

Structure:body:doorJun 2, 2016 · NHTSA campaign 16V395000 · 24,698 vehicles

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 1998-2002 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Conventional, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner ER, 2000-2017 Saf-T-Liner MVP-EF, 1998-1999 Vista, 2003 Saf-T-Liner FS65, 2013-2017 Saf-T-liner C2, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner MVP-ER, 2013-2017 Saf-T-Liner HDX. In the affected vehicles, the stem that connects the outside emergency door handle to the emergency door opening mechanism may corrode.

Risk: If the stem corrodes, the door handle could detach from the emergency door opening mechanism, delaying the opening of the door and the evacuation of the bus. In the event of an emergency, this may increase the risk of injury to the bus occupants.

Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will either replace the stems or protect them against corrosion, free of charge. An interim notice was sent to owners on July 28, 2016. A second notice was mailed to owners on December 16, 2016. Parts are available. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-713.

Structure:bodyMar 27, 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V104000 · 145 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: certain school buses built with composite front roof caps fail to comply with requirements of fmvss no. 221, "school bus body joint strength." the roof cap does not meet the requirements due to the omission of the adhesive that joins the roof to the bus body.

Risk: In the event of a crash, the roof of the vehicle may crush, not properly protecting the vehicle occupants.

Fix: Dealers will re-bond the roof cap to the roof sheet metal. Owner notification began september 14, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact thomas built at 1-336-889-4871.

To see whether a specific car still has an open recall, enter its VIN on NHTSA's official recall lookup. You can also decode a VIN here.

Recent owner reports

Short excerpts of the latest complaints filed with NHTSA, with personal details removed. Full reports can be searched on NHTSA.gov.

Annual inspection revealed broken roof bows on two seperate school busses. The thomas dealer has available a repair part and procedure, a stiffener is welded in the bow at the window header.

Structure · received Jul 22, 2008 · NHTSA complaint 10235358

Other Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner ER years

← 1997 SAF-T-Liner ER · 2001 SAF-T-Liner ER →

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Frequently asked questions

What are the most common problems with the 2000 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner ER?

Owners most often report structure problems. The top one, structure, accounts for 1 complaint.

Was there a recall on the 2000 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner ER?

Yes, 3 safety recalls. Enter your VIN at NHTSA.gov to check whether the repairs were done on your car.

Was the 2000 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner ER a good year?

Complaint data can't fully answer that, because counts aren't adjusted for sales. Compared with other SAF-T-Liner ER model years, the 2000 has too little data to compare. Always get a pre-purchase inspection and check the VIN for open recalls.