2022 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx problems, complaints & recalls
Safety recalls (11)
Equipment:other:labels 2024-07-24 · campaign 24V555000 · 27,494 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain Thomas Built Buses 2019-2022 Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EFX, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Minotour DRW, 2020-2022 Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley, and Minotour SRW school buses. The Emergency Exit Label lettering is too small and may be difficult to read. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."
Risk: Emergency exit labels that are difficult to read can prevent or delay the use of the emergency exit, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will correct the lettering, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 5, 2024. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL918.
Structure:body:roof And Pillars 2022-10-12 · campaign 22V762000 · 17,613 vehicles
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.
Structure:body 2022-09-14 · campaign 22V688000 · 1,259 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The rear exterior side-body 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 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 November 11, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall FL953.
Seats:mid/Rear Assembly 2022-07-19 · campaign 22V510000 · 1,806 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-23 Thomas Built Buses HDX and 2014-22 EFX school buses equipped with 39-inch S3C seat frames and 3-point flex seatbelts. The passenger seat frames may crack and rotate from fatigue.
Risk: Cracked passenger seat frames may not adequately secure passengers in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will secure the seat frames with brackets, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mail December 4, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA's customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL946.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:cables 2022-04-22 · campaign 22V271000 · 2,943 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Thomas Built Bus HDX school buses. The positive battery cable may be routed improperly, allowing it to chafe against the transmission oil cooler hoses, which can cause an electrical short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the cable routing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL928.
Electrical System:12v/24v/48v Battery:cables 2022-04-22 · campaign 22V272000 · 138 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Thomas Built Bus HDX commercial buses. The positive battery cable may be routed improperly, allowing it to chafe against the transmission oil cooler hoses, which can cause an electrical short circuit.
Risk: An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and repair the cable routing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL929.
Electrical System:alternator/Generator/Regulator 2021-11-02 · campaign 21V850000 · 1,434 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Thomas Built EFX and HDX school buses. The nut for the power cable stud on the alternator may not have been tightened properly, which can cause a loose cable connection.
Risk: A loose power cable connection may cause electrical arcing, which can increase the risk of a fire.
Fix: Dealers will inspect the alternator power cable connection and tighten it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 17, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL904.
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:fan 2021-09-15 · campaign 21V714000 · 50 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2022 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The fan drive pulley assembly bolts may be incorrect or improperly installed. Incorrect or improperly installed bolts may lead to a loose fan belt, resulting in a disabled bus.
Risk: A disabled school bus may require an evacuation procedure in an uncontrolled traffic situation, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: DTNA will inspect and repair the fan drive pulley assembly mounting bolts as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 12, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA's customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-902.
Seats 2021-06-17 · campaign 21V462000 · 9 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX School Buses. These school buses may have been manufactured with an incorrect passenger seat configuration that does not provide the proper amount of seat back protection. As such, these school buses fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."
Risk: In the event of a crash, the seats may not adequately protect the occupants, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the rear passenger seats, free of charge. No owner notification will be distributed, all units were repaired on August 12, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-892.
Steering:linkages:tie Rod Assembly 2021-05-19 · campaign 21V370000 · 479 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX School Buses and Saf-T-Liner C2 School Buses. The tie rod clamps may be loose, which could result in loose tie rod ends that could break or detach.
Risk: Detached or broken tie rod ends can result in steering loss, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the tie rod clamp bolts and nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-888.
Steering:critical Fasteners 2021-04-12 · campaign 21V255000 · 1,252 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The steering arm and tie rod bolts may have a defective seam that can fracture.
Risk: A fractured bolt may cause a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tie rod arm bolts and steering arm, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-884.
Service bulletins (62)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Unknown Or Other 2026-07-06 · TSB-54-029-FTL · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
technical service bulletin for electrical wiring modifications for type dfootwell heater
Engine 2026-04-23 · SS 306-TBB · Other
service solution for hdx def header service replacement additional parts
Unknown Or Other 2025-09-09 · MYCOM_09092025-1 · Other
my communications for dtna announces extended coverage policy updates
Engine 2025-08-07 · SS306-TBB · Other
service solution for hdx def header service replacement additional parts
Exterior Lighting 2025-02-05 · SS288-TBB · Other
service solution for hdx / efx front lighting replacement
Engine 2025-01-31 · D24R7-OWN LTR · Emissions
emission recall for dd8 egr monitor software reprogramming
Showing the 6 most recent of 62 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
No detailed complaint narratives on file.
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.