2026 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx problems, complaints & recalls
Safety recalls (2)
Engine And Engine Cooling:cooling System:hoses/Lines/Piping/Fittings 2026-02-13 · campaign 26V086000 · 2,843 vehicles
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.
Steering:critical Fasteners 2025-09-11 · campaign 25V604000 · 99 vehicles
Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain Thomas Built Buses 2025-2026 Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner C2, 2026 Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley school buses. The tie rod castle nut and cotter pin may not be installed properly, which can result in a loss of vehicle steering control.
Risk: A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the tie rod assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2025. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is D25R2.
Service bulletins (6)
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.
Visibility/Wiper 2026-04-24 · SS 305-TBB · Other
service solution for efx ac upper bracket tbb 130987 replaced with tbb 248310
Electrical System 2026-03-20 · SS 308-TBB · Other
service solution for timer relay tbb 202400 replacement
Fuel/Propulsion System 2026-02-10 · MyCom_02102026-2 · Other
my communications for rai rk6166302 informational bulletin
Unknown Or Other 2026-01-26 · SS 582773-TBB · Other
service solution for efx shock mount frame rail crack repair
Seats 2025-11-18 · PAB018-2025 · Other
product awareness bulletin for discontinuation of immi t3 activity seats
Unknown Or Other 2025-09-09 · MYCOM_09092025-1 · Other
my communications for dtna announces extended coverage policy updates
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.