2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx

Routine

No owner complaints are on file for this vehicle. It has been recalled 23 times.

23 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Structure › Body › Roof and Pillars22V762000
Filed Oct 12, 202217,613 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America, Llc

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.

Remedy. 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.

Seats › Barriers22V634000
Filed Aug 19, 20227,561 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America, Llc

Defect. Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2011-2021 Thomas Built Saf-T Liner HDX school buses. The forward seat barriers may not provide sufficient protection to passengers. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."

Risk. Occupants may collide with the front seat barriers with more force than intended during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. Dealers will install a spacer between the seat rail and the seat barrier, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed August 25, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL843. This recall replaces NHTSA recall 19V899.

Structure › Emergency › Escape/Egress/Exit20V252000
Filed May 5, 20207,979 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America Llc

Defect. Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2010-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The lettering on the instruction label for the rear emergency exit window may be too small. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."

Risk. Small lettering may be difficult for occupants to read, delaying the reaction time to open the exit, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. DTNA will notify owners and mail a new label to attach to the exit window by first class mail, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on June 17, 2020. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-849.

Equipment18V083000
Filed Jan 30, 2018606 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America Llc

Defect. Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, FS65, and Minotour school buses, equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Risk. In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy. DTNA will notify owners instructing them to contact Kidde for a replacement fire extinguisher, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin March 30, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 or Kidde customer service at 1-855-262-3540 or online at www.kidde.com and click on "Product Safety Recall" for more information. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-759.

Seat Belts17V317000
Filed May 11, 2017152 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America Llc

Defect. Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The occupant seat lap belts may have been anchored to the seat instead of the bus structure.

Risk. A seat lap belt anchored to the seat instead of the bus structure may not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seats and modify the anchorage if necessary, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed to owners on June 15, 2017. A second notice will be mailed when the remedy becomes available. The recall is expected to begin on July 9, 2017. Owners may contact DTNA Customer Service 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for the recall is FL-736.

Seat Belts17V314000
Filed May 11, 201746 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America Llc

Defect. Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX transit buses. The occupant seat lap belts may have been anchored to the seat instead of the bus structure.

Risk. A seat lap belt anchored to the seat instead of the bus structure may not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seats and modify the seat belt anchorage if necessary, free of charge. An interim notification was sent to owners on June 15, 2017. The recall began on February 6, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA Customer Service 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for the recall is FL-736.

Structure › Body › Door16V395000
Filed Jun 2, 201624,698 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America Llc

Defect. Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 1998-2002 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Conventional, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner ER, 2000-2017 Saf-T-Liner MVP-EF, 1998-1999 Vista, 2003 Saf-T-Liner FS65, 2013-2017 Saf-T-liner C2, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner MVP-ER, 2013-2017 Saf-T-Liner HDX. In the affected vehicles, the stem that connects the outside emergency door handle to the emergency door opening mechanism may corrode.

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.

Remedy. DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will either replace the stems or protect them against corrosion, free of charge. An interim notice was sent to owners on July 28, 2016. A second notice was mailed to owners on December 16, 2016. Parts are available. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-713.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission16V325000
Filed May 19, 201694 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America Llc

Defect. Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses manufactured April 28, 2010, to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have a transmission retarder that may increase coolant system pressure high enough to cause hose fatigue and lead to premature failure of the hose, resulting in a coolant leak inside the bus body.

Risk. If the heater hose fails, hot coolant may leak inside the bus body increasing risk of injury to the passengers.

Remedy. DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the heater hose, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed on July 6, 2016. The recall began on September 20, 2016. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-709.

Power Train › Automatic Transmission16V326000
Filed May 19, 201643 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America Llc

Defect. Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX buses manufactured April 28, 2010, to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have a transmission retarder that may increase coolant system pressure high enough to cause hose fatigue and lead to premature failure of the hose, resulting in a coolant leak inside the bus body.

Risk. If the heater hose fails, hot coolant may leak inside the bus body increasing risk of injury to the passengers.

Remedy. DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the heater hose, free of charge. DTNA distributed interim notifications to owners on July 6, 2016. The recall began on September 20, 2016. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-709.

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility15V565000
Filed Sep 4, 20154,334 vehiclesDaimler Trucks North America Llc

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.

Remedy. 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.

Showing 10 of 23 campaigns, newest first.

Across model years

Worst on record: 2004
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
20260300Routine
20250300Routine
20240200Routine
20230800Routine
202201100Routine
202101600Routine
202001800Routine
201912110Routine
201802600Routine
201703200Routine
201602900Routine
201503100Routine
201403000Routine
2013 — this page02300Routine
201201900Routine
201102300Routine
201001600Routine
200911400Routine
200801400Routine
200701000Routine
20061900Routine
20050500Routine
20042500Routine
20030500Routine
20020100Routine

Compare every Saf-T-Liner Hdx year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Oct 12, 2022. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.