Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Recall 26V702: School Bus Body Joints May Be Too Weak in a Crash
What this recall means
Certain Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER school buses may have wheelhouse body interior joints that were manufactured incorrectly, so the joints may not have enough strength. These buses do not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 221, which covers school bus body joint strength.
A school bus with insufficient joint strength may not adequately protect passengers in a crash, which increases the risk of injury. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 21, 2026.
Dealers will add fasteners to secure the joints, free of charge. You can contact Daimler Trucks North America customer service at 1-800-574-0712 (recall F1044), and you can check your vehicle's VIN for open recalls.
Official recall details
Component: STRUCTURE:BODY
Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2023-2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2 Jouley, 2025-2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2, 2026-2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER HDX2, and Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER EFX2 school buses. The wheelhouse body interior joints may have been manufactured incorrectly, resulting in 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."
Risk: A school bus with insufficient joint strength may not adequately protect passengers in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will add fasteners to secure the joints, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 21, 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-574-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1044.