2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2 Problems, Complaints & Recalls

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain Thomas Built Buses 2019-2022 Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EFX, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Minotour DRW, 2020-2022 Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley, and Minotour SRW school buses. The Emergency Exit Label lettering is too small and may be difficult to read. 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: Emergency exit labels that are difficult to read can prevent or delay the use of the emergency exit, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will correct the lettering, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 5, 2024. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL918.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC. (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2 and 2020-2024 Thomas Built SAF-T-Liner Jouley school buses. The fasteners for the emergency exit door may loosen and detach, which can allow the emergency exit door to open unexpectedly.

Risk: An emergency exit door opening unexpectedly can increase the risk of an injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the fasteners for the emergency exit door, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL982.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC. (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2 transit buses. The fasteners for the emergency exit door may loosen and detach, which can allow the emergency exit door to open unexpectedly.

Risk: An emergency exit door opening unexpectedly can increase the risk of an injury.

Fix: Dealers will inspect and tighten the fasteners for the emergency exit door, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 1, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL982.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Thomas Built Bus SAF-TLINER C2 JOULEY school buses equipped with an automatic low voltage disconnect switch. The automatic low voltage disconnect switch may fail, resulting in a loss of drive power, power steering, or vehicle lighting.

Risk: A loss of drive power, power steering, or vehicle lighting can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will remove the automatic low voltage disconnect switch, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 18, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL968.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2 and 2021-2023 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2 Jouley school buses.  A rear interior 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."

Risk: A school bus with insufficient joint strength may not adequately protect passengers in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Dealers will add additional fasteners to secure the joints, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-574-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL973.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Thomas Built C2 Saf-T-Liner school buses equipped with 8.8L LPG engines. The engine control module (ECM) may set a fault code that results in an unexpected engine shut down.

Risk: Unexpected engine shut down can increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, a disabled school bus may require an evacuation procedure in an uncontrolled traffic situation, increasing the risk of injury to passengers.

Fix: Dealers will update the ECM software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 28, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL942.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Thomas Built C2 Saf-T-Liner school buses. The parking brake activation switch may fail to set the parking brake.

Risk: Unintended movement of the vehicle increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: DTNA will update the Dash Electronic Control Unit (DECU ) software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on September 14, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA's customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-896.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX School Buses and Saf-T-Liner C2 School Buses. The tie rod clamps may be loose, which could result in loose tie rod ends that could break or detach.

Risk: Detached or broken tie rod ends can result in steering loss, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: Dealers will replace the tie rod clamp bolts and nuts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 23, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-888.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The steering arm and tie rod bolts may have a defective seam that can fracture.

Risk: A fractured bolt may cause a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tie rod arm bolts and steering arm, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-884.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021 Thomas Built C2 Saf-T-Liner School Buses. The tire valve stem extension may be damaged by contact with disc brake caliper.

Risk: A damaged tire valve stem may cause a loss of tire pressure, increasing the risk of a crash. A disabled bus may require passengers to transfer to a different bus on the side of the road, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the valve stems, free of charge. This recall is expected to begin on May 22, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-882.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses equipped with Cummins B6.7N engines. The engine control module software may be calibrated incorrectly, causing the engine to not limit engine speed or torque as intended for certain safety-related functions such as vehicle braking, traction and stability control, speed control, or collision avoidance.

Risk: If safety-related functions such as vehicle braking, stability, speed, and collision avoidance do not function properly, it can increase the risk of a crash.

Fix: DTNA will work with the engine manufacturer Cummins Inc. to notify owners, and Cummins dealers will recalibrate the engine control module, free of charge. Owner notifications were mailed on March 29, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA number for this recall is FL-879.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley electric school buses. If the service brake pedal is pressed and then released while the parking brake is engaged, the parking brake may release unexpectedly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Risk: An unexpected disengagement of the parking brake without continual application of the service brake may allow the vehicle to roll freely, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the electronic control unit (ECU) software, free of charge. The recall began January 22, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-745-8000. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-870.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC. (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021 Saf-T-Liner C2 School Buses. The adjustable brake pedal arm may rotate from its original location due to an incorrect fit between the pedal adjustment tube and the upper brake arm casting.

Risk: A brake pedal that rotates out of position increases the risk of a crash.

Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a new brake pedal assembly, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on September 22, 2020. The recall began February 17, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-857.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses configured with a specific Switch Hub Module (part numbers 204803 and 216434) combined with a 500k Bulk Head Module and a certain 3-position momentary switch warning light package. The Switch Hub Module (SHM) that controls the exterior warning lights and stop sign may fail, resulting in deactivation of the red warning lights, stop sign and system indicator.

Risk: If the exterior warning lights and stop sign indicator stop working, other drivers may inadvertently proceed driving before the school bus loading/unloading of students is complete, increasing the risk of an injury.

Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will update the SHM, free of charge. The recall began April 15, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-844.

Problem: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses equipped with Detroit Diesel DD5 engines. The fan hub bolts may have been may have been insufficiently tightened.

Risk: The loose bolts can cause the fan to damage surrounding components and/or detach from the engine, disabling the bus and resulting in an evacuation in an uncontrolled traffic situation, thereby increasing the risk of an injury.

Fix: DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the fan hub bolts, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began January 16, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-841.