John deere/engine surge
Defect Summary
Certain my 2002-2005 thomas built saf-t-liner er school buses and er transit buses manufactured between november 2002 and february 2005 and equipped with john deere 8.1l compressed natural gas engines models hfn01 and hfn03. the engine control unit and throttle can unexpectedly surge. these units fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 124, accelerator control systems.
Safety Consequence
A sudden engine surge could possibly result in a vehicle crash.
Corrective Action
John deere will notify the customers of freightliner/thomas built and will update the engine control unit software free of charge. owners may contact john deere at 1-800-jd-engine.
Similar Recalls
Other recalls from Freightliner Llc or involving N/A.
FAQ: Recall 05V208000
Your rights, the repair process, and what each field on this page means.
What is recall 05V208000?
NHTSA recall 05V208000 was issued by Freightliner Llc on April 27, 2005. It addresses: John deere/engine surge. The recall affects approximately 153 vehicles, with the defect involving the N/A component.
How do I get this recall repaired?
Contact any authorized Freightliner Llc dealer and reference NHTSA recall ID 05V208000 or the manufacturer campaign number FL-450. 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.