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RECALLROADTHE CAMPAIGN RECORD

MODEL-YEAR RECALL REPORT

2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx recalls

NHTSA's September 21, 2026 snapshot lists 14 safety recall campaigns for the 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx, spanning 6 component groups. A model match does not confirm that a specific VIN is included.

Official source: NHTSA recall campaign file · Snapshot September 21, 2026

Distinct campaigns14not VIN-specific
Component groups6distinct top-level categories
Latest recordOctober 12, 2022report received
VIN resultNot checkeduse official lookup

01 / OFFICIAL CAMPAIGNS

2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx recall campaigns

The 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx report contains 14 distinct NHTSA campaigns; the most recently received record is campaign 22V762000 dated October 12, 2022.
Component
STRUCTURE
Report received
October 12, 2022
Potential units
17,613campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

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.".

Why it matters: 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.

Owner notification: June 2, 2023 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Component
SEATS
Report received
July 19, 2022
Potential units
1,806campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: 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.

Why it matters: 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.

Owner notification: December 4, 2023 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Component
SEATS
Report received
October 4, 2019
Potential units
53,528campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2020 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner EFX, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner C2, and Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses equipped with SynTec S3B or S3C seats. The seats may have been manufactured with styrene blocks that may not provide sufficient impact absorption in certain specific areas around the steel seat frame of the back support. 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.".

Why it matters: The lack of impact absorption increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install additional impact material between the re-bond back and the vinyl back cover to increase the amount of absorption, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on November 29, 2019. The recall began June 22, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-832.

Owner notification: June 22, 2020 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Component
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
Report received
June 11, 2019
Potential units
11,546campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2010-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, 2016-2019 HDX, and 2017-2019 EFX school buses equipped with Bendix Air Disc Brakes. The driver side rear brakes may drag.

Why it matters: The dragging brakes may lead to high temperatures at the wheel end, increasing the risk of smoke and fire, possibly resulting in the bus having to be evacuated, which can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install a new caliper with an updated clearance adjustment mechanism, free of charge. The recall began August 9, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-818.

Owner notification: August 9, 2019 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 18V914000

Component
STEERING, SUSPENSION
Report received
December 19, 2018
Potential units
73campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX, C2, and EFX School Buses, equipped with Detroit Axle axles. The affected vehicles may have loose steering tie rod arm bolts.

Why it matters: Loose tie rod arm bolts may lead to separation of the tie rod arm, affecting vehicle steering, and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA has notified owners, and dealers will inspect the steering arm and tie rod arm bolts for to make sure that they are properly tightened, installing new fasteners as necessary, free of charge. The recall began February 9, 2019. Owners may contact Daimler Trucks at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-802.

Owner notification: February 9, 2019 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 18V702000

Component
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
Report received
October 5, 2018
Potential units
1,532campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Thomas Built school buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX and Saf-T-Liner EFX school buses. The brake caliper mounting bolts may have been insufficiently tightened.

Why it matters: Loose brake caliper mounting bolts can reduce brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA has notified owners, and dealers will check and tighten the brake caliper mounting bolts, free of charge. The recall began December 3, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-794.

Owner notification: December 3, 2018 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 18V410000

Component
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
Report received
June 15, 2018
Potential units
5campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX transit buses. The check valve for the air brake system may not be plumbed correctly which can cause the primary air system to not be isolated from the secondary air system.

Why it matters: In the event of a rapid loss of air pressure in the secondary system, the incorrectly plumbed check valve can cause rapid air loss in both secondary and primary system, causing the parking brakes to activate suddenly. This will increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the check valve as needed, free of charge. The recall began on August 12, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-774.

Owner notification: August 12, 2018 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 18V409000

Component
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR
Report received
June 15, 2018
Potential units
109campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX school buses. The check valve for the air brake system may not be plumbed correctly which can cause the primary air system to not be isolated from the secondary air system.

Why it matters: In the event of a rapid loss of air pressure in the secondary system, the incorrectly plumbed check valve can cause rapid air loss in both secondary and primary system, causing the parking brakes to activate suddenly. This will increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair the check valve as needed, free of charge. The recall began on August 12, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-774.

Owner notification: August 12, 2018 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

CAMPAIGN

NHTSA 18V352000

Component
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
Report received
May 29, 2018
Potential units
2,767campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EFX and Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses equipped with air disc brakes. The brake caliper mounting bolts on these vehicles may be insufficiently tightened, allowing the bolts to loosen.

Why it matters: If the brake caliper mounting bolts come loose, braking performance may be reduced, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the brake caliper mounting bolts and tighten them as necessary, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on July 25, 2018. The recall began September 4, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-772.

Owner notification: September 4, 2018 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Component
SEATS
Report received
April 19, 2018
Potential units
24campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EFX, Saf-T-Liner HDX, and Minotour transit buses, equipped with certain S3B Restraint Wall Mounted Seats. The wall mounting bracket may crack, causing the seat to not remain secured in place in the event of a crash.

Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the wall, the occupant has an increased risk of an injury.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wall mounting bracket, free of charge. Daimler issued an interim notification to owners on June 15, 20 18. The recall began January 3, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-769.

Owner notification: January 3, 2019 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Component
SEATS
Report received
April 19, 2018
Potential units
23,102campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Minotour school buses equipped with S3B Restraint Wall Mounted Seats. The wall mounting bracket may crack, causing the seat to not remain secured in place in the event of a crash.

Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the wall, the occupant has an increased risk of an injury.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wall mounting bracket, free of charge. Daimler issued owners an interim notification on June 12, 2018. The recall began January 3, 2019. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-769.

Owner notification: January 3, 2019 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Component
SEATS
Report received
March 26, 2018
Potential units
6campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Minotour transit buses, equipped with certain Syntec-brand S3B, Non-Restraint, Wall Mounted Seats. The wall mounting bracket may crack, which may cause the seat to not remain secured in place in the event of a crash.

Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the wall, the occupant has an increased risk of an injury.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wall mounting bracket, free of charge. DTNA issued an interim notification to owners on May 10, 2018. The recall began May 10, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-763.

Owner notification: May 10, 2019 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Component
SEATS
Report received
March 26, 2018
Potential units
6,606campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Minotour school buses, equipped with certain Syntec-brand S3B, Non-Restraint, Wall Mounted Seats. The wall mounting bracket may crack, which may cause the seat to not remain secured in place in the event of a crash.

Why it matters: In the event of a crash, if the seat does not remain secured to the wall, the occupant has an increased risk of an injury.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will install an additional wall mounting bracket, free of charge. DTNA issued an interim notification to owners on May 9, 2018. The recall began May 10, 2018. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-763.

Owner notification: May 10, 2019 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

Component
SEATS
Report received
May 11, 2017
Potential units
1,132campaign-wide
Defect and consequence

Defect: Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX and Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The occupant seats may have been installed without under-rail washers, reducing their anchorage strength.

Why it matters: Without under-rail washers, in the event of a crash, the seats may come loose, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seats and replace the mounting hardware, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 28, 2017. Owners may contact DTNA Customer Service 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for the recall is FL-737.

Owner notification: June 28, 2017 · Filing manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America LLC

02 / COMPONENT BREADTH

What defects are listed for the 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx?

The most frequent component groups in 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx campaign records are Seats (7), Service Brakes, Air (4), Service Brakes, Hydraulic (1), Steering (1), Suspension (1); these counts describe filed campaigns rather than observed failure rates.
Seats7
Service Brakes, Air4
Service Brakes, Hydraulic1
Steering1
Suspension1