2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx problems, complaints & recalls

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2011-2023 Thomas Built EFX and HDX school buses. The exterior roof panel was manufactured with 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 exterior roof panel with insufficient joint strength may separate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will add additional mechanical fasteners to secure the joints, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL957.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner EF, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Minotour DRW transit buses manufactured January 3, 2006, to August 1, 2014, and equipped with certain Ricon model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, S5510 wheelchair lifts. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Risk: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on November 2, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-686.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Thomas Built Buses FS-65, Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EF, Saf-T-Liner EFX, Saf-T-Liner HDX, and Minotour DRW school buses manufactured January 3, 2006, to August 1, 2014, and equipped with certain Ricon model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, S5510 wheelchair lifts. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Risk: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began onNovember 2, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-686.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner ER, 2001-2005 Saf-T-Liner Conventional, 2002-2013 Saf-T-Liner MVP-EF, 2013 Saf-T-Liner EFX, 2001-2008 Saf-T-Liner FS65, 2005-2013 Saf-T-Liner C2, 2003-2013 Saf-T-Liner HDX, 2002-2003 Saf-T-Liner MVP-ER, 2002 Vista, and 2002-2003 TL-960 school buses manufactured from February 5, 2001, through May 29, 2012. In the affected vehicles, the stem that connects the outside emergency door han

Risk: If the stem corrodes, the door handle could detach from the emergency door opening mechanism, delaying the opening of the door and the evacuation of the bus. In the event of an emergency, this may increase the risk of injury to the bus occupants.

Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will either replace the stems or protect them against corrosion, free of charge. Daimler issued an interim notification to owners on August 25, 2015. The recall began on December 24, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-685.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2002-2004 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner ER, 2001-2005 Saf-T-Liner Conventional, 2002-2013 Saf-T-Liner MVP-EF, 2013 Saf-T-Liner EFX, 2001-2008 Saf-T-Liner FS65, 2005-2013 Saf-T-Liner C2, 2003-2013 Saf-T-Liner HDX, 2002-2003 Saf-T-Liner MVP-ER, 2002 Vista, and 2002-2003 TL-960 non-school buses. In the affected vehicles, the stem that connects the outside emergency door handle to the emergency door opening mechanism may corro

Risk: If the stem corrodes, the door handle could detach from the emergency door opening mechanism, delaying the opening of the door and the evacuation of the bus. In the event of an emergency, this may increase the risk of injury to the bus occupants.

Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will either replace the stems or protect them against corrosion, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners on August 28, 2015. The recall began on December 24, 2015. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-685.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2012-2014 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX and Saf-T-Liner EFX school buses manufactured October 17, 2011, through July 2, 2013. A U-bolt intended to reinforce certain seat installations to the chassis may have been left out of the assembly process.

Risk: In the event of a crash, the seats may not stay mounted to the chassis, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: DTNA will notify owners and dealers will install the U-bolts as required, free of charge. The recall began on December 13, 2013. Owners may contact DTNA at 1-503-745-5219. DTNA's recall number is FL-650.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America (Daimler) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Saf-T-Liner (EF, EFX, and HDX) buses equipped with an auxiliary fuel pickup tube for use with an optional chassis coolant heater and manufactured January 1, 2012, through October 4, 2012. An information label affixed to the auxiliary heater fuel pickup tube may detach and fall off into the fuel tank, inhibiting fuel delivery to the engine.

Risk: Insufficient fuel delivery may cause the engine to stumble, run erratically, or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Daimler will notify owners and dealers will inspect the tanks and auxiliary heater fuel pickup tubes for labels. Any labels will be removed, free of charge. The recall began on October 18, 2013. Owners may contact Daimler at 1-800-716-7466. Daimler's recall number is FL-643.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America (Daimler) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Saf-T-Liner (EF, EFX, and HDX) buses equipped with an auxiliary fuel pickup tube for use with an optional chassis coolant heater and manufactured January 1, 2012, through October 4, 2012. An information label affixed to the auxiliary heater fuel pickup tube may detach and fall off into the fuel tank, inhibiting fuel delivery to the engine.

Risk: Insufficient fuel delivery may cause the engine to stumble, run erratically, or stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Daimler will notify owners and dealers will inspect the tanks and auxiliary heater fuel pickup tubes for labels. Any labels will be removed, free of charge. The recall began on October 15, 2013. Owners may contact Daimler at 1-800-716-7466. Daimler's recall number is FL-643.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2014 Thomas Built Buses brand Saf-T-Liner EFX school buses manufactured from March 29, 2012, through November 14, 2012 and equipped with 100% Daytime Running Lights (DRL) option code C3676-24-000. The DRL circuit breaker may trip during continuous operation of the headlights in high beam mode. This would result in a loss of power to the headlights, marker lights, tail lights, and dash lighting.

Risk: A loss of power to the bus' lights may reduce the driver's ability to see other vehicles, pedestrians, or objects, as well as reduce the bus' visibility to other drivers or pedestrians, increasing the risk of crash.

Fix: DTNA has notified the affected owners. Dealers will replace the circuit breaker, free of charge. The recall began on December 14, 2012. Owners may contact Thomas Built Buses Warranty Department at 1-366-889-4871.