Freightliner/thomas built/fmvss 217/roof hatch
Defect Summary
Vehicle description: certain school buses fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, "bus emergency exits and window retention and release." a third roof hatch must be added to meet the standard requirements. only vehicles located in the state of washington are involved.
Safety Consequence
In the event of a crash, the bus occupant may not be able to exit the bus quickly.
Corrective Action
Dealers will install a third roof hatch. owner notification began may 1, 2002. 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 336-889-4871.
Similar Recalls
Other recalls from Thomas Built Buses, Inc. or involving Structure.
FAQ: Recall 01V378000
Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.
What is recall 01V378000?
NHTSA recall 01V378000 was issued by Thomas Built Buses, Inc. on December 12, 2001. It addresses: Freightliner/thomas built/fmvss 217/roof hatch. The recall affects approximately 57 vehicles, with the defect involving the Structure component.
How do I get this recall repaired?
Contact any authorized Thomas Built Buses, Inc. dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 01V378000 or the manufacturer campaign number NR (Not Reported). Under federal law, the repair is completely free regardless of vehicle age or owner history.
Is my vehicle included in this recall?
The only way to confirm is to look up your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's tool will tell you if VIN-by-VIN this exact recall applies.
How long do I have to get a recall repair done?
There is no expiration on most federal safety recalls. Even if your vehicle is years old and you bought it used, the manufacturer is required to perform the repair at no cost.
Where does the data on this page come from?
All information on this page is sourced directly from the U.S. Department of Transportation public dataset for NHTSA recalls. Last refreshed: 2026-05-22. For the most current official notice, visit nhtsa.gov/recalls.