The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·19V444000·Announced 2019-06-11

Thomas Built Buses Recall School Buses Due to Dragging Rear Brakes

Daimler Trucks North America is recalling specific Thomas Built Buses school buses because the driver-side rear brakes may drag, increasing the risk of smoke and fire.

What this means for you

Our assessment, not the agency’s: severity 4/5 (Severe).

The hazard poses a serious risk of illness, injury, or structural failure. Stop using the product immediately and contact the manufacturer for a refund or repair.

Our severity reasoning: The recall involves a structural vehicle defect (brakes) that explicitly increases the risk of fire and injury, meeting the criteria for a Severe rating.

Plain-English summary

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2010-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, 2016-2019 Saf-T-Liner HDX, and 2017-2019 Saf-T-Liner EFX school buses. The recall affects vehicles equipped with Bendix Air Disc Brakes. A total of 11,546 vehicles are affected by this safety recall.

The defect involves the driver-side rear brakes, which may drag. This dragging can lead to high temperatures at the wheel end, increasing the risk of smoke and fire. In some cases, the bus may need to be evacuated, which can increase the risk of injury to occupants.

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a new caliper with an updated clearance adjustment mechanism free of charge. The recall began on August 9, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 or the NHTSA Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

The recalled product

Product
THOMAS BUILT BUSES SAF-T-LINER EFX, SAF-T-LINER HDX, SAF-T-LINER C2
Brand
THOMAS BUILT BUSES
Manufacturer
Daimler Trucks North America LLC
Category
Vehicle — School Bus
Hazard
Affected units
11,546

Is your product affected?

Check your packaging against the codes below. If any of them match, the product is part of this recall.

Model numbers (3)

  • SAF-T-LINER EFX
  • SAF-T-LINER HDX
  • SAF-T-LINER C2

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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