2023-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley, 2025-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX2 and 1 more model recall: Insufficient Interior Joint Strength/FMVSS 221
Report received by NHTSA: Oct. 22, 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 2023-2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2 Jouley, 2025-2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2, 2026-2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER HDX2, and Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER EFX2 school buses. The wheelhouse body interior joints 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 a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
- Who's affected
13,593 vehicles potentially affected, according to NHTSA. Models: 2023-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley, 2025-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX2, 2026-2027 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
308 earlier NHTSA recalls by Daimler Trucks North America, LLC since Nov. 1, 2016; the 5 most recent:
- Oct. 21, 2026 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 recall: Heater Hose May Rupture and Leak
- Oct. 7, 2026 2022-2027 Fccc XCM, 2022-2027 Fccc XCR, 2024-2027 Fccc XBS and 3 more models recall: Fuel Filter Hoses May Disconnect and Leak Fuel
- Oct. 1, 2026 2025-2027 Freightliner Business Class M2 recall: Insulation May Catch Fire
- Oct. 1, 2026 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley recall: Insufficient Illumination from Low Beam Headlights
- Sept. 9, 2026 2020-2023 Freightliner Cascadia, 2022 Western Star 49X recall: Modulator Valve Corrosion May Cause Brake Pull
Counted by the Tribune from NHTSA's records since Nov. 1, 2016.
- What to do and when
Dealers will add fasteners to secure the joints, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 21, 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-574-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1044.
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 C2 2025-2027
- Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley 2023-2027
- Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX2 2026-2027
- Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 2026-2027
The record as NHTSA published it
| NHTSA recall number | 26V702000 |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Daimler Trucks North America, LLC |
| Recall type | Vehicle |
| Component | STRUCTURE |
| Report received by NHTSA | Oct. 22, 2026 |
| Potentially affected | 13,593 vehicles |
| Manufacturer's recall number | F1044 |
| “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