RoadVitals

2004 Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Safety recallsA 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.
4
Latest Sep 8, 2005
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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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2004 Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2. 4 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 4 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Safety recalls

4 campaigns cover this model year

View all 4

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
05V392000

STRUCTURE:BODY

Sep 8, 2005
315 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN MY 2004 AND 2005 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 2004, AND MAY 5, 2005. THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE GAP BETWEEN ADJOINING INTERIOR PANELS ABOVE THE REAR RIGHT SIDE WINDOW WHICH DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH.
The risk: A NONCOMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 221 MAY, WITHOUT WARNING, RESULT IN AN INCREASE OF A STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE OF THE SCHOOL BUS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.
The remedy: THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY IT CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE JOINT BY ADDING A BRACKET SECURED WITH SCREWS AND ADHESIVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-877-660-4938.
FREIGHTLINER LLCManufacturer number FL-456View on NHTSA.gov
05V387000

STEERING:COLUMN

Sep 6, 2005
1,840 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN MY 2004 AND 2005 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 2004 AND AUGUST 26, 2005. THE UPPER STEERING SHAFT PINCH BOLT MAY NOT BE CORRECTLY TIGHTENED, RESULTING IN THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF THE BOLT, ALLOWING JOINT SEPARATION AND LOSS OF STEERING.
The risk: SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING WITHOUT WARNING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.
The remedy: ALL THOMAS BUILT AND FREIGHTLINER DEALERS AND DIRECT WARRANTY CUSTOMERS WERE CALLED ON AUGUST 26, 2005, AND NOTIFIED NOT TO DRIVE THESE BUSES UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN INSPECTED. THE REMEDY PROCEDURE CALLS FOR THE INSPECTION OF THE STEERING PINCH BOLTS FOR THE PRESENCE OF TORQUE SEAL. BOLTS WITHOUT TORQUE SEAL WILL BE TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS AND TORQUE SEAL ADDED. FOLLOW UP NOTIFICATION BY MAIL BEGAN AUGUST 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
FREIGHTLINER LLCManufacturer number FL-457View on NHTSA.gov
05V393000

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

Sep 6, 2005
1,395 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN MY 2004 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2 AND THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 26 AND OCTOBER 29, 2004, EQUIPPED WITH A CATERPILLAR C-7 ENGINE AND BORG-WARNER KYS 4735 35480 55 ENGINE FAN. THE FAN SHROUD MAY BE DRAWN BACK INTO THE FAN AT HIGH ENGINE SPEEDS WHEN THE FAN CLUTCH ENGAGES. DUE TO REDUCED CLEARANCE, HEAVY CONTACT BETWEEN THE FAN AND THE SHROUD MAY CAUSE THE FAN BLADE TO FRACTURE.
The risk: THE FAN MAY FRACTURE AND PIECES MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FAN BLADE. IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS MAY PRESENT A HAZARD TO PEOPLE NEAR THE VEHICLE WITH THE HOOD OPEN AND THE ENGINE RUNNING.
The remedy: FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE ENGINE FAN WITH A FAN THAT HAS A DIFFERENT MOUNTING OFFSET FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON JANUARY 16, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.
FREIGHTLINER LLCManufacturer number FL-458View on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SB-33-02

SUSPENSION:FRONT:HUB

THOMAS BUSES: THE BEARING SPACER ARE BEING REPLACED WITH NEW PRESET BEARING SPACER, WHEN EVER OLD HUB HAS BEEN REMOVED. MODEL SAF-T-LINER C2. NO YEARS LISTED. *PE

PSB-13

THOMAS BUILT: THE COPPER CABLE STRANDS ARE EXPOSED TO ATMOSPHERE DUE TO PDM CABLE RUBBING PDM MOUNTING BRACKET OR HOOD/FENDER SPLASH SHIELD. NEED P-CLIP AND TIE WRAP INSTALLED TO PREVENT CHAFING. *PE

SB-31-1

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR; SUSPENSION

THOMAS BUILT: SIX PIECE BOLTED SERVICE CROSSMEMBERS ARE AN IMPROVED, MORE DURABLE SERVICE REPLACEMENT FOR FIVE-PIECE WELDED CROSSMEMBERS, ALLIGATOR CROSSMEMBERS, AND C CHANNEL WELDED CROSSMEMBERS USED WITH STEEL FRAME RAILS. NO MODEL YEARS LISTED. *PE

SB-41-1

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT; POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:UNIVERSAL JOINT

THOMAS BUILT: NEW TIGHTENING PROCEDURE HAS BEEN DEVELOPED FOR HALF ROUND U JOINT BEARING STRAP CAPSCREWS, WHICH SHOULD EXTEND U JOINT LIFE. MODEL YEARS UNKNOWN. *PE

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.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005040—
2004Viewing040—

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.