The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·10V142000·Announced 2010-04-09

Thomas Built 161TS School Buses Recalled for Seat Cushion Defect

H. A. Dehart is recalling 2010-2011 Thomas Built 161TS school buses because misaligned seat cushion locking mechanisms could detach in a crash, increasing injury risk.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (seat cushion locking mechanism) that increases the risk of injury in a crash, but the source text does not report any actual injuries or fatalities, fitting the 'High' severity criteria for risk-of-harm products where injury has not yet been reported.

Plain-English summary

H. A. Dehart is recalling certain model year 2010 and 2011 Thomas Built 161TS school buses manufactured on February 24, 2010. The recall addresses a defect where the seat cushion locking mechanisms were misaligned during vehicle assembly. This error renders the school buses noncompliant with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard No. 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."

In the event of a crash, the seat cushion could detach from the seat, increasing the risk of injury to the bus occupants. The source text does not report any specific injuries or fatalities associated with this defect.

All affected buses have already been repaired. Therefore, an owner notification letter will not be issued for this campaign. Owners may contact H. A. Dehart toll-free at 1-800-222-0271 for more information. Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit safercar.gov.

The recalled product

Product
THOMAS BUILT 161TS
Brand
THOMAS BUILT
Manufacturer
H. A. DEHART
Category
Vehicle — School Bus
Hazard
Affected units
4

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (1)

  • 161TS

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

Related recalls

Same brand · THOMAS BUILT

Same hazard · crash injury

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