The Recall Desk
HighNHTSA·23V209000·Announced 2023-09-13

School buses recalled for automatic electrical disconnect switch failure

Certain 2021-2023 Thomas Built school buses may lose critical driving functions due to automatic electrical switch failure. Dealers will remove the faulty switch at no cost.

What this means for you

Real risk of harm even if no illness or injury has been reported yet. Stop using the product and follow the agency's guidance.

Our severity reasoning: This recall involves a potential loss of critical vehicle systems (drive power, power steering, lighting) in school buses, which could increase crash risk. However, the source reports no injuries, illnesses, or property damage, placing this at the high-risk level.

Plain-English summary

Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling approximately 380 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2 school buses from model years 2021 through 2023. The vehicles are equipped with an automatic low voltage disconnect switch that may fail during operation.

When the switch fails, the bus may lose drive power, power steering, or vehicle lighting. These losses can significantly increase the risk of a crash or loss of vehicle control.

The manufacturer is urging all owners to contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 to schedule repair. Dealers will remove the faulty automatic disconnect switch at no charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 18, 2023.

For more information, owners can contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY: 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.nhtsa.gov.

The recalled product

Product
THOMAS BUILT BUSES SAF-T-LINER C2
Brand
THOMAS BUILT BUSES
Manufacturer
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
Category
Vehicle — School Bus / Electrical System
Hazard
Affected units
380

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 C2

Distribution

Distributed nationwide across the United States.

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