RoadVitals

2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov
Recall campaignsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
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Newest Feb 13, 2026
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
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Open investigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
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Recall campaigns

6 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

26V087000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

Feb 13, 2026
52 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain Thomas Built Buses 2023-2025 Saf-T-Liner EFX and 2023-2026 Saf-T-Liner HDX vehicles. The heater hose clamps may not have been tightened properly, causing the hose to disconnect and leak heating coolant inside the passenger compartment.
The risk: Contact with hot heating coolant may burn occupants, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the heater hose clamps, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1030.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number F1030View on NHTSA.gov
26V086000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:HOSES/LINES/PIPING/FITTINGS

Feb 13, 2026
2,843 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain Thomas Built Buses 2023-2026 Saf-T-Liner EFX and Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The heater hose clamps may not have been tightened properly, causing the hose to disconnect and leak heating coolant inside the passenger compartment.
The risk: Contact with hot heating coolant may burn occupants, increasing the risk of injury.
The remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the heater hose clamps, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1030.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number F1030View on NHTSA.gov
23V259000

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

Apr 7, 2023
48 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2023 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-LINER SAF-T-LINER C2 Jouley, Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-LINER EFX, Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX, Thomas Built Buses Chassis and 2023-2024 School Bus Chassis school buses. The tie rod may be missing a fastener, allowing the steer arm to detach.
The risk: A detached steering arm can result in a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy: DTNA will inspect and repair or replace the tie rod assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL970.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number FL970View on NHTSA.gov
22V762000

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

Oct 12, 2022
17,613 units potentially affected
The defect: 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."
The risk: A school bus exterior roof panel with insufficient joint strength may separate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The 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.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number FL957View on NHTSA.gov
22V517000

STRUCTURE:EMERGENCY:ESCAPE/EGRESS/EXIT

Jul 20, 2022
3 units potentially affected
The defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX school buses. The buses may not have a sufficient number of emergency exits. 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."
The risk: An insufficient number of emergency exits can delay passengers from exiting the vehicle during an emergency, increasing their risk of injury.
The remedy: Dealers will add an emergency exit roof hatch, free of charge. All vehicles have been remedied. Owners may contact DTNA's customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL947.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number FL947View on NHTSA.gov
22V153000

SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

Mar 11, 2022
539 units potentially affected
The defect: 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."
The risk: A seat with broken mounting bolts may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.
The 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.
Daimler Trucks North America, LLCManufacturer number FL-921View on NHTSA.gov

What a recall is

Safety recall
A safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
Safety investigation
NHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
Manufacturer communication
Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources