Recall Campaign

Daimler Trucks
Octobv
North America LLC

December 2017
FL743AB
NHTSA #17V-453 School Buses
#17V-454 Non School Buses
Transport Canada #17-359

Subject: TBB Wheelchair Pocket Track
Models Affected: Specific Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2
school buses and non-school buses manufactured
December 1, 2004, through May 30, 2017.

General Information
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA), on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary, Thomas Built Buses (TBB),
has decided that a defect that relates to motor vehicle safety exists on the vehicles mentioned above.
There are approximately 1,500 vehicles involved in this campaign.
On certain buses, the wheelchair pocket track may not meet the anchorage requirement. This may increase the risk
of injury in the event of a crash.
Additional fasteners will be added to the wheelchair pocket track to reinforce the anchorage.

Additional Repairs
Dealers must complete all outstanding Recall and Field Service campaigns prior to the sale or delivery of a vehicle. A
Dealer will be liable for any progressive damage that results from its failure to complete campaigns before sale or
delivery of a vehicle.
Owners may be liable for any progressive damage that results from failure to complete campaigns within a
reasonable time after receiving notification.

Work Instructions
Please refer to the attached work instructions.

Page 1

Daimler Trucks
Octobv
North America LLC

Recall Campaign
December 2017
FL743AB
NHTSA #17V-453 School Buses
#17V-454 Non School Buses
Transport Canada #17-359

Replacement Parts
Replacement parts are now available and can be obtained by ordering from your facing Parts Distribution Center.
Table 1 – Replacement Parts for FL743
Campaign
Number

Kit Number

Part Number
TBB 184059

TBB 216886

TBB 69004114

WASHER, FLAT - 5/16 I.D. X 1 1/2 O.D. (2 ea)

TBB 69004121

NUT, FLANGE 5/16-18, SERRATED (2 ea)

TBB 184062

FL743AB

Part Description
5/16"-18 X 1.25, FLAT HEAD SOC CAP, SCREW
(2 ea)

N/A

TBB 125077

N/A

N/A

5/16"-18 X 3.50, FLAT HEAD SOC CAP, SCREW
(1 ea)

Qty.

1 kit per
track
section

(Use with TBB 125077 only when a bolt falls on a
Z-channel; discard if not needed)

FLOOR REINFORCEMENT, CHANNEL, SEAT
(1 ea)
(Use with TBB 184062 from the kit only when a bolt falls
on a Z-channel)

UNDERCOATING
(As needed)

1 ea

N/A

Table 1

Removed Parts
Please follow Warranty Failed Parts Tracking shipping instructions for the disposition of all removed parts.

Page 2

Daimler Trucks
Octobv
North America LLC

Recall Campaign
December 2017
FL743AB
NHTSA #17V-453 School Buses
#17V-454 Non School Buses
Transport Canada #17-359

Labor Allowance
Table 2 – Labor Allowance
Time
Allowed
(Hours)

SRT Code

1 section of track: Install 2 bolts, nuts,
and washers

0.4

996-0913A

2 sections of track: Install 2 bolts, nuts,
and washers

0.8

996-0913B

3 sections of track: Install 2 bolts, nuts,
and washers

1.2

996-0913C

4 sections of track: Install 2 bolts, nuts,
and washers

1.6

996-0913D

5 sections of track: Install 2 bolts, nuts,
and washers

2.0

996-0913E

6 sections of track: Install 2 bolts, nuts,
and washers

2.4

996-0913F

8 sections of track: Install 2 bolts, nuts,
and washers

2.8

996-0913G

10 sections of track: Install 2 bolts, nuts,
and washers

3.4

996-0913H

Campaign
Number

FL743AB

Procedure

Corrective Action

12 – Repair Recall/Campaign

Table 2

Claims for Credit
You will be reimbursed for your parts, labor, and handling by submitting your claim through the Warranty system
within 30 days of completing this campaign. Please reference the following information in OWL:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Claim Type is Recall Campaign.
In the Campaign field, enter the campaign number (FL743-A or FL743-B)
In the Primary Failed Part field, enter TBB 173640
In the Parts section, enter the appropriate part number(s) as shown in the Replacement Parts Table.
NOTE: One TBB 216886 kit per track section repaired is required and claimed.
In the Labor section, enter the appropriate SRT from the Labor Allowance Table.
The VMRS Component Code is 174-001-066 and the Cause Code is A1 - Campaign.
U.S. and Canada – Reimbursement for Prior Repairs. When a customer asks about reimbursement,
please do the following:
• Accept the documentation of the previous repair.
• Make a brief check of the customer’s paperwork to see if the repair may be eligible for
reimbursement.
• Submit a Recall Pre-Approval request for a decision and authorized amount.

Page 3

Recall Campaign

Daimler Trucks
Octobv
North America LLC

December 2017
FL743AB
NHTSA #17V-453 School Buses
#17V-454 Non School Buses
Transport Canada #17-359
•
•
•

Submit a “based on” claim for the approved pre-approval.
Attach the documentation to the pre-approval request.
When your claim is paid, reimburse the customer the appropriate amount.

IMPORTANT: OWL must be viewed prior to performing the recall to ensure the vehicle is involved and the
campaign has not been previously completed. Also, check for a completion sticker prior to beginning work.
Contact the Warranty Campaigns Department at (336) 889-4871, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday
through Friday, via Web inquiry at AccessFreightliner.com / My Tickets and Submit an Inquiry, if you have any
questions or need additional information.
To return excess kit inventory related to this campaign, U.S. dealers must submit a Parts Authorization Return
(PAR) to the Memphis PDC. Canadian dealers must submit a PAR to their facing PDC. All kits must be in resalable
condition. PAR requests must include the original purchase invoice number.
The letter notifying U.S. and Canadian vehicle owners is included for your reference.
Please note that the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act, as amended (Title 49, United States Code,
Chapter 301), requires the owner’s vehicle(s) be corrected within a reasonable time after parts are available to
you. The Act states that failure to repair a vehicle within 60 days after tender for repair shall be prima facie
evidence of an unreasonable time. However, circumstances of a particular situation may reduce the 60 day period.
Failure to repair a vehicle within a reasonable time can result in either the obligation to (a) replace the vehicle
with an identical or reasonably equivalent vehicle, without charge, or (b) refund the purchase price in full, less a
reasonable allowance for depreciation. The Act further prohibits dealers from selling a vehicle unless all
outstanding recalls are performed. Any lessor is required to send a copy of the recall notification to the lessee
within 10 days. Any subsequent stage manufacturer is required to forward this notice to its distributors and retail
outlets within five working days.

Page 4

Recall Campaign

Daimler Trucks
Octobv
North America LLC

December 2017
FL743AB
NHTSA #17V-453 School Buses
#17V-454 Non School Buses
Transport Canada #17-359

Copy of Notice to Owners
Subject: TBB Wheelchair Pocket Track
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the National Traffic and Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
This notice is sent to you in accordance with the Canadian Motor Vehicle Safety Act.
Daimler Trucks North America LLC, on behalf of its wholly owned subsidiary, Thomas Built Buses, has decided that
a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists on specific Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses
and non-school buses manufactured December 1, 2004, through May 30, 2017.
On certain buses, the wheelchair pocket track may not meet the anchorage requirement. This may increase the risk
of injury in the event of a crash.
Additional fasteners will be added to the wheelchair pocket track to reinforce the anchorage.
To arrange for repairs, you should contact your local Thomas Built Buses dealer immediately. The repair
should take between approximately half an hour to four hours, depending on the work needed, and will be
performed at no charge to you.
You may be liable for any progressive damage that results from your failure to complete the Recall within a
reasonable time after receiving notification.
If you do not own the vehicle that corresponds to the identification number(s) which appears on the Recall
Notification, please return the notification to the Warranty Department with any information you can furnish that will
assist us in locating the present owner. If you have leased this vehicle, Federal law requires that you forward this
notice to the lessee within 10 days.
If you have paid to have this recall condition corrected prior to this notice, you may be eligible to receive reimbursement. For further information, please contact the Warranty Department at (336) 889-4871, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern
Time Monday through Friday. To find a dealer in your area please go to www.thomasbus.com.
If you have any questions about this recall, please contact the Warranty Department at (336) 889-4871, 8:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. If you are not able to have the defect remedied without charge
and within a reasonable time, you may wish to submit a complaint to the Administrator, National Highway Traffic
Safety Administration, 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590; or call the Vehicle Safety Hotline at
(888) 327-4236 (TTY: 800-424-9153); or to http://www.safercar.gov. In Canada, you may contact Transport Canadaroad safety, 80 rue Noel, Gatineau, Quebec J8Z 0A1 or call 1-800-333-0510.
We regret any inconvenience this action may cause but feel certain you understand our interest in motor vehicle
safety.

THOMAS BUILT BUSES WARRANTY DEPARTMENT
Enclosure

Page 5

Daimler Trucks
Octobv
North America LLC

Recall Campaign
December 2017
FL743AB
NHTSA #17V-453 School Buses
#17V-454 Non School Buses
Transport Canada #17-359

Work Instructions
Subject: TBB Wheelchair Pocket Track
Models Affected: Specific Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2
school buses and non-school buses manufactured
December 1, 2004, through May 30, 2017.

Wheelchair Pocket Track Reinforcement
IMPORTANT: One kit TBB 216886 is needed for each track section repaired. Each bus will require between one
and ten kits to complete the recall. Part number TBB 184062 from the kit may be discarded if it is not needed.
Review Table 1 on page 2 before starting work.
1. Park the vehicle, shut down the engine, make sure the shifter is in Park or Neutral. Chock the tires.
2. Identify track locations and prepare the area for installation of the bolts. (Seats covering the track, preventing
installation of the two bolts may need to be removed.)
3. Drill a hole through the track and the floor using a “P” bit (.3230 in. bit). See Figure 1 for locations.

Drilling locations. Holes
are drilled between the
two rivets at each end.
Figure 1: Drilling Locations

4. Create a countersink in each of the holes drilled. This should be an 82-degree countersink at a .191 in. depth.
5. Insert a 5/16 in.-18 X 1.25 flat head socket cap bolt (TBB 184059) in each hole.
6. Underneath the bus, install a washer (TBB 69004114) and nut (TBB 69004121) on each of the bolts inserted
through the track and floor and tighten to 12-14 lbf.ft.

Page 6

Daimler Trucks
Octobv
North America LLC

Recall Campaign
December 2017
FL743AB
NHTSA #17V-453 School Buses
#17V-454 Non School Buses
Transport Canada #17-359

NOTE: Use bolt TBB 184062 from the kit only when the Z-section interferes, otherwise it may be discarded.
See step 7.
7. If the Z-section interferes with tightening the washer and nut against the floor, install a bracket (TBB125077) with
a longer bolt (TBB 184062) over the Z-section as shown in Figure 2. If there is no interference, go to step 8.
Longer bolt
(TBB 184062) used
If Installing bracket

Bracket
needed
if the
hole falls
on the
Z-bracket

Figure 2: Bracket and Bolt

8. Tighten each nut and bolt until secure against the floor and the bolt is flush against the top of the track.
9. Spray the new bolts with undercoating.
10. Repeat for each section of track.
11. Remove the chocks from the tires.

Page 7