The problem
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses, equipped with S3B 45" Restraint School Bus Seats. In the event of a crash, the seat's foot may pull through the bolted joint at the bus floor. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
The risk
In the event of a crash, if the seat detaches from the floor, it can increase the risk of injury.
The fix
DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a washer between the rear mounting foot, and the bus floor to keep the seat secured, free of charge. The recall began October 17, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL787.
Contacts
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
What to do
- Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
- Call a dealer. Any authorized Thomas Built Buses dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 18V561000.
- Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
- Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.