United States 85V017000
THOMAS BUILT BUSES, INC.
The problem
THE RACK AND GEAR TYPE LATCH ASSEMBLY OF THE EMERGENCY DOORS CAN BE OVERSTRESSED BY MISUSE OF THE INSIDE DOOR HANDLE, MAKING THE GEARS SUBJECT TO FAILURE. CONSEQUENCE OF DEFECT: IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THESE GEARS TO FAIL WHEN THE DOOR IS CLOSED, MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO OPEN THE EMERGENCY DOOR. THIS COULD RESULT IN PASSENGERS BEING TRAPPED IN CASE OF EMERGENCY.
What owners should do
INSTALL COMPLETE NEW LATCH ASSEMBLIES WITH METAL GEARS TO REPLACE THE NYLON MATERIAL.
Units 27