2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx problems, complaints & recalls

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain Thomas Built Buses 2023-2026 Saf-T-Liner EFX and Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The heater hose clamps may not have been tightened properly, causing the hose to disconnect and leak heating coolant inside the passenger compartment.

Risk: Contact with hot heating coolant may burn occupants, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the heater hose clamps, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1030.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain Thomas Built Buses 2023-2025 Saf-T-Liner EFX and 2023-2026 Saf-T-Liner HDX vehicles. The heater hose clamps may not have been tightened properly, causing the hose to disconnect and leak heating coolant inside the passenger compartment.

Risk: Contact with hot heating coolant may burn occupants, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the heater hose clamps, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 10, 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1030.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2023 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-LINER SAF-T-LINER C2 Jouley, Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-LINER EFX, Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX, Thomas Built Buses Chassis and 2023-2024 School Bus Chassis school buses. The tie rod may be missing a fastener, allowing the steer arm to detach.

Risk: A detached steering arm can result in a sudden loss of steering control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: DTNA will inspect and repair or replace the tie rod assembly as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 11, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL970.

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 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX school buses. The buses may not have a sufficient number of emergency exits. 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: An insufficient number of emergency exits can delay passengers from exiting the vehicle during an emergency, increasing their risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will add an emergency exit roof hatch, free of charge. All vehicles have been remedied. Owners may contact DTNA's customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL947.

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX School Buses. The passenger seat mounting bolts may break due to improperly placed mounting that allows contact with the chassis cross member bolts. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorage" and 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."

Risk: A seat with broken mounting bolts may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will add a spacer to provide proper clearance between the passenger seat mounting and chassis cross member bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-921.