2015 THOMAS BUILT BUSES SAF-T-LINER HDX

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

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.

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2010-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The lettering on the instruction label for the rear emergency exit window may be too small. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."

Risk: Small lettering may be difficult for occupants to read, delaying the reaction time to open the exit, increasing the risk of injury.

SEATS

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."

Risk: The lack of impact absorption increases the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

SEATS

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.

Risk: 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.

SEATS

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.

Risk: 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.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 and Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses, equipped with certain S-Series and K-Series Titanium Wheelchair Lifts, models K200, K201, K550, K551, S200, S2201, S550 and S551. The wheelchair lift positioning input cam may fail while the lift is in use, allowing the platform to travel higher than the vehicle's floor height.

Risk: If the wheelchair lift platform stops above the vehicle floor, the wheelchair user can tip inwards toward the vehicle when exiting the lift, increasing their risk of injury.

SEATS

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.

Risk: 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.

EQUIPMENT

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2002-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, FS65, and Minotour school buses, equipped with Kidde Plastic-Handle or Push Button 'Pindicator' Fire Extinguishers. These extinguishers may become clogged, preventing the extinguisher from discharging as expected or requiring excessive force to activate the extinguisher. Additionally, in certain models, the nozzle may detach from the valve assembly with enough force that it could cause injury and also render the product inoperable. For a full list of the affected fire extinguisher models visit: https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/rcl/2017/RMISC-17E062-5427.pdf

Risk: In the event of a fire, if the fire extinguisher does not function properly, it can increase the risk of injury.

SEATS

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.

Risk: 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.

SEATS

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses. A reinforcement bracket may be missing from the seats that have 3-point seat belts.

Risk: Without the reinforcement bracket, the seat may not be adequately secured, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

SEAT BELTS

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX transit buses. The occupant seat lap belts may have been anchored to the seat instead of the bus structure.

Risk: A seat lap belt anchored to the seat instead of the bus structure may not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

SEATS

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX and Saf-T-Liner C2 transit buses. A reinforcement bracket may be missing from the seats that have 3-point seat belts.

Risk: Without the reinforcement bracket, the seat may not remain adequately secured, increasing the risk of injury in a crash.

SEAT BELTS

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The occupant seat lap belts may have been anchored to the seat instead of the bus structure.

Risk: A seat lap belt anchored to the seat instead of the bus structure may not properly restrain the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

SEATS

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.

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX buses manufactured November 29, 2012, to February 4, 2016. These vehicles use a rubber elbow to connect a coolant line to a heater inside the bus. This elbow may restrict coolant flow and possibly fail as a result of the increased stress on the elbow.

Risk: If the rubber elbow fails, hot coolant may leak inside the bus body increasing risk of injury to the passengers.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, and Saf-T-Liner HDX transit buses manufactured July 15, 2014, to July 21, 2016, and equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts by Ricon. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Risk: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses manufactured November 29, 2012, to February 4, 2016. These vehicles use a rubber elbow to connect a coolant line to a heater inside the bus. This elbow may restrict coolant flow and possibly fail as a result of the increased stress on the elbow.

Risk: If the rubber elbow fails, hot coolant may leak inside the bus body increasing risk of injury to the passengers.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Thomas Built Buses Safe-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Minotour DRW school buses manufactured July 15, 2014, to July 21, 2016, and equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts by Ricon. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Risk: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX buses manufactured April 28, 2010, to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have a transmission retarder that may increase coolant system pressure high enough to cause hose fatigue and lead to premature failure of the hose, resulting in a coolant leak inside the bus body.

Risk: If the heater hose fails, hot coolant may leak inside the bus body increasing risk of injury to the passengers.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses manufactured April 28, 2010, to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have a transmission retarder that may increase coolant system pressure high enough to cause hose fatigue and lead to premature failure of the hose, resulting in a coolant leak inside the bus body.

Risk: If the heater hose fails, hot coolant may leak inside the bus body increasing risk of injury to the passengers.

STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 1998-2002 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Conventional, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner ER, 2000-2017 Saf-T-Liner MVP-EF, 1998-1999 Vista, 2003 Saf-T-Liner FS65, 2013-2017 Saf-T-liner C2, 2000-2002 Saf-T-Liner MVP-ER, 2013-2017 Saf-T-Liner HDX. In the affected vehicles, the stem that connects the outside emergency door handle to the emergency door opening mechanism may corrode.

Risk: If the stem corrodes, the door handle could detach from the emergency door opening mechanism, delaying the opening of the door and the evacuation of the bus. In the event of an emergency, this may increase the risk of injury to the bus occupants.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Thomas Built Buses FS-65, Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EF, Saf-T-Liner EFX, Saf-T-Liner HDX, and Minotour DRW school buses manufactured January 3, 2006, to August 1, 2014, and equipped with certain Ricon model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, S5510 wheelchair lifts. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Risk: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2007-2016 Freightliner 114SD and M2 Business Class trucks, 2008-2009 Sterling LT8500 trucks and Thomas Built Bus Saf-T-Liner HDX transit buses equipped with certain Cummins Westport ISL G engines. Excessive engine crankcase pressures may cause the 90-degree elbow of the vent tube assembly to detach from the crankcase ventilation breather, possibly allowing engine oil to come into contact with hot surfaces.

Risk: If engine oil comes into contact with a hot surface, there is an increased risk of a fire.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2006-2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner EF, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Minotour DRW transit buses manufactured January 3, 2006, to August 1, 2014, and equipped with certain Ricon model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, S5510 wheelchair lifts. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Risk: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2008-2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses manufactured May 25, 2008, to December 18, 2014, and equipped with certain Cummins Westport ISL G engines. Excessive engine crankcase pressures may cause the 90-degree elbow of the vent tube assembly to detach from the crankcase ventilation breather, possibly allowing engine oil to come into contact with hot surfaces.

Risk: If engine oil comes into contact with a hot surface, there is an increased risk of a fire.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (Daimler) is recalling certain model year 2009-2015 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses manufactured February 25, 2008, through February 11, 2014, equipped with Cummins Westport Model ISL G engines. Condensation in the intake manifold may freeze during cold weather conditions and interfere with the proper operation of the intake manifold pressure sensor.

Risk: The sensor malfunction could induce elevated exhaust temperatures or flames from the exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire or burn injury to a person near the exhaust pipe.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (Daimler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2015 Freightliner 114SD, Cascadia, M2 Business Class, Sterling LT8500, and Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX vehicles manufactured February 19, 2008, through February 11, 2014, and equipped with Cummins Westport Model ISL G and Cummins Westport Model ISX12 G engines. Condensation in the intake manifold may freeze during cold weather conditions and interfere with the proper operation of the intake manifold pressure sensor.

Risk: The sensor malfunction could induce elevated exhaust temperatures or flames from the exhaust pipe, increasing the risk of a vehicle fire or burn injury to a person near the exhaust pipe.

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-t-liner school buses manufactured May 2, 2014, to July 31, 2015. The Cummins ISB or ISL engines in these vehicles may have been equipped with Fleetguard UFF-XT fuel filters, part number FF63009, whose filter shell may separate from the fuel filter nut plate causing the engine to stall without warning.

Risk: If the engine stalls unexpectedly there is an increased risk of a crash.