2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX2, 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 recall: Insufficient Joint Strength and Missing Seat Belt Anchor/FMVSS 210, 221
Report received by NHTSA: Aug. 24, 2026.
Built by the Tribune's code from NHTSA's official records. No AI wrote this page. Updated Nov. 4, 2026.
- What's recalled
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER HDX2 and Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER EFX2 school buses. The connector plates for the driver's seat belt anchor and an interior body joint seam may be missing, resulting in insufficient structural reinforcements. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages," and 221, "School Bus Body Joint Strength."
- The risk
A seat belt anchor with a missing connector plate may fail to properly restrain the driver and insufficient joint strength may not adequately protect passengers, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
- Who's affected
65 vehicles potentially affected, according to NHTSA. Models: 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX2, 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2.
- Compared with
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC has 20 NHTSA recalls in 2026 so far, compared with 15 in all of 2025.
Counted by the Tribune from NHTSA's records since Nov. 1, 2016.
- Before this
302 earlier NHTSA recalls by Daimler Trucks North America, LLC since Nov. 1, 2016; the 5 most recent:
- Aug. 10, 2026 2024-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 recall: Fuel Tank Cage Incompatible with Fuel System/FMVSS 301
- Aug. 10, 2026 2024-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 recall: Fuel Tank Cage Incompatible with Fuel System/FMVSS 301
- July 22, 2026 2026-2027 Fccc S2C, 2026-2027 Fccc S2RV, 2026-2027 Freightliner Business Class M2 and 1 more model recall: Insufficient Illumination from Low Beam Headlights
- June 26, 2026 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 recall: Entrance Door May Fail to Open or Close
- June 26, 2026 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 recall: Entrance Door May Fail to Open or Close
Counted by the Tribune from NHTSA's records since Nov. 1, 2016.
- What to do and when
Dealers will inspect and replace the header connectors, as necessary, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, were mailed October 21, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated November 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-574-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1038.
NHTSA's record, word for word
- Check it yourself
NHTSA's VIN lookup shows whether a specific vehicle has an open recall.
Models in this recall
- Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX2 2027
- Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 2027
The record as NHTSA published it
| NHTSA recall number | 26V546000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Daimler Trucks North America, LLC |
| Recall type | Vehicle |
| Component | SEAT BELTS |
| Report received by NHTSA | Aug. 24, 2026 |
| Potentially affected | 65 vehicles |
| Manufacturer's recall number | F1038 |
| “Do not drive” warning | No |
| Fire risk when parked (“park outside”) | No |
Source: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recall records (public domain). NHTSA's record