Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX School Buses Recalled for Panel Joint Strength
Daimler Trucks North America is recalling 2020-2023 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses because rear side-body panels may have insufficient joint strength.
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 (insufficient joint strength) that may separate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury, which aligns with the 'Severe' criteria for structural defects and significant injury risk.
Plain-English summary
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The recall involves 1,259 vehicles where the rear exterior side-body panel was manufactured with insufficient joint strength. As a result, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 221, "School Bus Body Joint Strength."
A school bus panel with insufficient joint strength may separate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury. No specific injuries or fatalities are reported in the source text.
Dealers will add additional mechanical fasteners to secure the joints, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 11, 2022. 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 HDX
- Brand
- THOMAS BUILT BUSES
- Manufacturer
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
- Category
- Vehicle — School Bus
- Affected units
- 1,259
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 (1)
- SAF-T-LINER HDX
Distribution
Distributed nationwide across the United States.
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