The worst 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
Recalls 16
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 24V555000 · Recall details
Structure: body: roof and pillars
- What is wrong
- 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.
Recall number 22V762000 · Recall details
Structure: body
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The rear exterior side-body 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 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 November 11, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall FL953.
Recall number 22V688000 · Recall details
Seats: barriers
- What is wrong
- 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 the federal safety agency recall 19V899.
Recall number 22V634000 · Recall details
Seats: mid/rear assembly
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-23 Thomas Built Buses HDX and 2014-22 EFX school buses equipped with 39-inch S3C seat frames and 3-point flex seatbelts. The passenger seat frames may crack and rotate from fatigue.
- Risk
- Cracked passenger seat frames may not adequately secure passengers in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will secure the seat frames with brackets, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mail December 4, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA's customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL946.
Recall number 22V510000 · Recall details
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cables
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Thomas Built Bus HDX school buses. The positive battery cable may be routed improperly, allowing it to chafe against the transmission oil cooler hoses, which can cause an electrical short circuit.
- Risk
- An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and repair the cable routing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL928.
Recall number 22V271000 · Recall details
Electrical system: 12v/24v/48v battery: cables
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Thomas Built Bus HDX commercial buses. The positive battery cable may be routed improperly, allowing it to chafe against the transmission oil cooler hoses, which can cause an electrical short circuit.
- Risk
- An electrical short circuit can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect and repair the cable routing, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 20, 2023. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL929.
Recall number 22V272000 · Recall details
Equipment: other: labels
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling one 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX transit bus. The gross axle weight rating (GAWR) may be improperly stated on the label. As such, this vehicle fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 136, "Electronic Stability Control Systems on Heavy Vehicles."
- Risk
- The operator may overload the vehicle while referencing the incorrect label, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- A dealer will apply a new label, free of charge. The owner notification letter is expected to be mailed January 16, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL911.
Recall number 21V915000 · Recall details
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Thomas Built EFX and HDX school buses. The nut for the power cable stud on the alternator may not have been tightened properly, which can cause a loose cable connection.
- Risk
- A loose power cable connection may cause electrical arcing, which can increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will inspect the alternator power cable connection and tighten it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 17, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL904.
Recall number 21V850000 · Recall details
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses equipped with an ISL or L9 engine. The power steering hose may be routed with inadequate clearance between the hose and the power cables.
- Risk
- A worn power steering hose increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- DTNA will inspect the power steering hose routing and modify it as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on October 17, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA's customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL898.
Recall number 21V659000 · Recall details
Steering: hydraulic power assist: hose, piping, and connections
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2016-2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX transit buses equipped with an ISL or L9 engine. The power steering hose may be routed with inadequate clearance between the hose and the power cables, potentially damaging the power steering hose.
- Risk
- A damaged power steering hose can leak, and increase the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- DTNA will inspect the power steering hose routing and modify it as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on October 17, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA's customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL898.
Recall number 21V660000 · Recall details
Seats
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2018-2022 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX School Buses. These school buses may have been manufactured with an incorrect passenger seat configuration that does not provide the proper amount of seat back protection. As such, these school buses fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."
- Risk
- In the event of a crash, the seats may not adequately protect the occupants, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the rear passenger seats, free of charge. No owner notification will be distributed, all units were repaired on August 12, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-892.
Recall number 21V462000 · Recall details
Steering: linkages: tie rod assembly
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 21V370000 · Recall details
Fuel system, diesel: fuel injection system: fuel rail
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DNTA) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX School Buses. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot bore holes, allowing the high pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.
- Risk
- A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the fuel rail and fuel lines, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on June 21, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-886.
Recall number 21V327000 · Recall details
Steering: critical fasteners
- What is wrong
- 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.
- Remedy
- 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.
Recall number 21V255000 · Recall details
Service brakes, hydraulic: foundation components: disc: caliper
- What is wrong
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX and EFX school buses. On certain vehicles, one of the six brake caliper mounting bolts on the driver side steer axle may have been incorrectly tightened.
- Risk
- The loose bolt could result in the other caliper bolts to loosen. Insufficiently tightened bolts may not provide adequate clamping force between the brake caliper and brake anchor plate, resulting in reduced brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1‑800‑547‑0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-873.
Recall number 21V017000 · Recall details
See all 16 recalls for the 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX
Technical service bulletins for the 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX 61
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- Warranty Information letter for Detroit Line or Line Seal, High Pressure Fuel Injector Standard Repair...
- Technical Service Bulletin for Electrical Wiring Modifications for Type DFootwell Heater
- Service Solution for HDX DEF Header Service Replacement Additional Parts
- Service Solution for HDX / EFX front lighting replacement
- Service Solution for Wiper Module TBB 61201552 replacement
- Extended Warranty Policy for certain Cummins B6.7 engines for TBB vehicle DEF headers for EPA and CARB...
- CX Advocate for CARB tightening the Readiness Criteria applied to On-Board Diagnostic (OBD) test...
- Service Solution for Detroit Successful Regen Reference for GHG17 DD Engines
- Revised Emissions Recall: Cummins DEF Sensor Shortage
- Important Campaign Information letter for FL974
See all 61 bulletins for the 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX
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Questions about the 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX
Is the 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX reliable?
Owners have filed 0 complaints about the 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX.
What is the most common problem with the 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX?
There are not enough complaints to tell.
How many recalls does the 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX have?
16 recalls, covering equipment, structure and seats.
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