The problem
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2024 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2 school buses. A rear exterior joint may have been manufactured incorrectly, resulting in 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."
The risk
A school bus with insufficient joint strength may not adequately protect passengers in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix
Dealers will add additional fasteners to secure the joints, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 29, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-574-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL972.
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.nhtsa.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 23V330000.
- 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.