CarRecallWatch- Component
- SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE; STRUCTURE:BODY
- Problem
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER HDX2 and Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER EFX2 school buses. The connector plates for the driver's seat belt anchor and an interior body joint seam may be missing, resulting in insufficient structural reinforcements. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages," and 221, "School Bus Body Joint Strength."
- Risk
- A seat belt anchor with a missing connector plate may fail to properly restrain the driver and insufficient joint strength may not adequately protect passengers, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and replace the header connectors, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 23, 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-574-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1038.
What this recall means for you
Certain school buses have a driver's seat belt anchor that may be missing a connector plate, and an interior body joint seam may lack needed reinforcement. As a result, the buses may not meet federal seat belt anchorage and school bus body joint strength requirements.
If the seat belt anchor is missing its connector plate, it may not properly restrain the driver, and insufficient joint strength may not adequately protect passengers. Both conditions increase the risk of injury in a crash.
Dealers will inspect and replace the header connectors as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed October 23, 2026. You can contact Daimler Trucks North America customer service at 1-800-574-0712, referencing recall F1038, and you can check your vehicle identification number for open recalls.
Check whether this recall is open on your vehicle
Official recall notice
Affected vehicles
| Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX2 | 2027 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 | 2027 |