Thomas Built Buses recalls 2027 Saf-T-Liner HDX2 and EFX2 school buses over missing seat belt anchor and body joint parts
Connector plates for the driver's seat belt anchor and a body joint seam may be missing, so the driver may not be properly restrained and passengers may not be well protected, raising the risk of injury in a crash.
What to do
Dealers will inspect the buses and replace the header connectors if needed, free of charge. Owners can call Daimler Trucks North America customer service at 1-800-574-0712 and cite recall number F1038.
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Recall details
- Product
- Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx2, Saf-T-Liner Efx2 2027
- Hazard
- 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.
- Units
- 65 vehicles
- Reported to NHTSA
- August 24, 2026
- Identifiers
- NHTSA campaign number: 26V546000
- Manufacturer campaign number: F1038
- Model years: 2027
The headline, summary and steps above are written in plain English from the official notice below. Identifiers are copied exactly as the agency published them. Always check the official notice before you act.
Official notice
The notice's own wording from NHTSA.
- Component
- SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
- Defect
- 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."
- Consequence
- 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.
- Corrective action
- 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.
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