The Recall Desk
Our severity:SevereNHTSA·21V017000·Announced 2021-01-20

2021 Thomas Built Buses Recall for Brake Caliper Bolt Tightening Defect

Daimler Trucks North America is recalling 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX and EFX school buses because a brake caliper bolt may be incorrectly tightened, potentially reducing brake effectiveness.

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 in the braking system that results in reduced brake effectiveness and an increased risk of a crash, which aligns with the rubric criteria for a score of 4.

Plain-English summary

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX and EFX school buses. The recall addresses a defect where one of the six brake caliper mounting bolts on the driver side steer axle may have been incorrectly tightened.

The loose bolt could cause the other caliper bolts to loosen. Insufficiently tightened bolts may not provide adequate clamping force between the brake caliper and brake anchor plate, resulting in reduced brake effectiveness and an increased risk of a crash.

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the vehicles as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on March 17, 2021. 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
Brand
THOMAS BUILT BUSES
Manufacturer
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
Category
Vehicle — School Bus
Hazard
Affected units
6

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 (2)

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

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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