Model year record

2021 THOMAS BUILT BUSES SAF-T-Liner EFX

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. No owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 24V555000

Equipment: other: labels

Component
Equipment: other: labels
Manufacturer
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
Vehicles affected
27,494
Reported to NHTSA
2024-07-24
Owners notified
2024-09-05

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain Thomas Built Buses 2019-2022 Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EFX, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Minotour DRW, 2020-2022 Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley, and Minotour SRW school buses. The Emergency Exit Label lettering is too small and may be difficult to read. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."

Safety risk

Emergency exit labels that are difficult to read can prevent or delay the use of the emergency exit, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will correct the lettering, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 5, 2024. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL918.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V762000

Structure: body: roof and pillars

Component
Structure: body: roof and pillars
Manufacturer
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
Vehicles affected
17,613
Reported to NHTSA
2022-10-12
Owners notified
2023-06-02

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2011-2023 Thomas Built EFX and HDX school buses. The exterior roof panel was manufactured with insufficient joint strength. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 221, "School Bus Body Joint Strength."

Safety risk

A school bus exterior roof panel with insufficient joint strength may separate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will add additional mechanical fasteners to secure the joints, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL957.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V510000

Seats: mid/rear assembly

Component
Seats: mid/rear assembly
Manufacturer
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
Vehicles affected
1,806
Reported to NHTSA
2022-07-19
Owners notified
2023-12-04

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-23 Thomas Built Buses HDX and 2014-22 EFX school buses equipped with 39-inch S3C seat frames and 3-point flex seatbelts. The passenger seat frames may crack and rotate from fatigue.

Safety risk

Cracked passenger seat frames may not adequately secure passengers in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will secure the seat frames with brackets, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mail December 4, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA's customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL946.

Recall campaignNHTSA 22V153000

Seats: critical fasteners

Component
Seats: critical fasteners
Manufacturer
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
Vehicles affected
539
Reported to NHTSA
2022-03-11
Owners notified
2022-06-02

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX School Buses. The passenger seat mounting bolts may break due to improperly placed mounting that allows contact with the chassis cross member bolts. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorage" and 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."

Safety risk

A seat with broken mounting bolts may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will add a spacer to provide proper clearance between the passenger seat mounting and chassis cross member bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-921.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V850000

Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator

Component
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
Manufacturer
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
Vehicles affected
1,434
Reported to NHTSA
2021-11-02
Owners notified
2021-12-17

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Thomas Built EFX and HDX school buses. The nut for the power cable stud on the alternator may not have been tightened properly, which can cause a loose cable connection.

Safety risk

A loose power cable connection may cause electrical arcing, which can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect the alternator power cable connection and tighten it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 17, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL904.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V255000

Steering: critical fasteners

Component
Steering: critical fasteners
Manufacturer
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
Vehicles affected
1,252
Reported to NHTSA
2021-04-12
Owners notified
2021-06-10

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The steering arm and tie rod bolts may have a defective seam that can fracture.

Safety risk

A fractured bolt may cause a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tie rod arm bolts and steering arm, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-884.

Recall campaignNHTSA 21V017000

Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper

Component
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
Manufacturer
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
Vehicles affected
6
Reported to NHTSA
2021-01-20
Owners notified
2021-03-17

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX and EFX school buses. On certain vehicles, one of the six brake caliper mounting bolts on the driver side steer axle may have been incorrectly tightened.

Safety risk

The loose bolt could result in the other caliper bolts to loosen. Insufficiently tightened bolts may not provide adequate clamping force between the brake caliper and brake anchor plate, resulting in reduced brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-873.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

No complaints recorded for this model year.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.