How many recalls does the 2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX have?

NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns for the 2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX as of October 16, 2026. Each includes the defect description, safety consequence, and the remedy Thomas Built Buses will perform. New recalls can be issued at any time; this page is refreshed from NHTSA daily.

How do I tell if my 2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX is affected by a recall?

Enter your 17-character VIN — stamped at the base of the windshield on the driver side and on the door jamb sticker — at nhtsa.gov/recalls. NHTSA's VIN lookup shows whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall; the list on this page covers every campaign for the 2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX.

Are recall repairs on a 2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX free?

Usually. Federal law requires Thomas Built Buses to remedy recalls on the 2021 SAF-T-Liner EFX free of charge at an authorized Thomas Built Buses dealer, regardless of how many owners the vehicle has had or how many miles are on the odometer — unless it was first sold more than 15 years before the recall was issued (5 years for tires).

Does a recall on the 2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX affect resale value?

An open recall can reduce resale value; a recall that has been repaired (documented in the vehicle history report) generally does not. Before you buy or sell a used 2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX, check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm every recall has been remedied.

How many owner complaints are on file for the 2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX?

No owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA on the 2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX.

NHTSA vehicle safety data

2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX has 7 NHTSA recall campaigns and 0 owner complaints on file as of October 16, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Thomas Built Buses dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

Pre-purchase inspection checklist → Reliability & 5-year cost forecast →

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS

NHTSA #24V555000

Reported July 24, 2024 · Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 27,494 vehicles

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain Thomas Built Buses 2019-2022 Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EFX, Saf-T-Liner HDX, Minotour DRW, 2020-2022 Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley, and Minotour SRW school buses. The Emergency Exit Label lettering is too small and may be difficult to read. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."

Safety consequence

Emergency exit labels that are difficult to read can prevent or delay the use of the emergency exit, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will correct the lettering, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 5, 2024. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL918.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

STRUCTURE:BODY:ROOF AND PILLARS

NHTSA #22V762000

Reported October 12, 2022 · Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 17,613 vehicles

Defect description

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."

Safety consequence

A school bus exterior roof panel with insufficient joint strength may separate during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

SEATS

NHTSA #22V510000

Reported July 19, 2022 · Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 1,806 vehicles

Defect description

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.

Safety consequence

Cracked passenger seat frames may not adequately secure passengers in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Manufacturer 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.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

SEATS:CRITICAL FASTENERS

NHTSA #22V153000

Reported March 11, 2022 · Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 539 vehicles

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX School Buses. The passenger seat mounting bolts may break due to improperly placed mounting that allows contact with the chassis cross member bolts. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard numbers 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorage" and 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."

Safety consequence

A seat with broken mounting bolts may not properly restrain an occupant in a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will add a spacer to provide proper clearance between the passenger seat mounting and chassis cross member bolts, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed June 2, 2022. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-921.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

NHTSA #21V850000

Reported November 2, 2021 · Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 1,434 vehicles

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Thomas Built EFX and HDX school buses. The nut for the power cable stud on the alternator may not have been tightened properly, which can cause a loose cable connection.

Safety consequence

A loose power cable connection may cause electrical arcing, which can increase the risk of a fire.

Manufacturer remedy

Dealers will inspect the alternator power cable connection and tighten it if necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on December 17, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL904.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.nhtsa.gov.

STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY

NHTSA #21V255000

Reported April 12, 2021 · Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 1,252 vehicles

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The steering arm and tie rod bolts may have a defective seam that can fracture.

Safety consequence

A fractured bolt may cause a loss of steering, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the tie rod arm bolts and steering arm, free of charge. The recall began on June 10, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-884.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DISC:CALIPER

NHTSA #21V017000

Reported January 20, 2021 · Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Potentially affected: 6 vehicles

Defect description

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX and EFX school buses. On certain vehicles, one of the six brake caliper mounting bolts on the driver side steer axle may have been incorrectly tightened.

Safety consequence

The loose bolt could result in the other caliper bolts to loosen. Insufficiently tightened bolts may not provide adequate clamping force between the brake caliper and brake anchor plate, resulting in reduced brake effectiveness, increasing the risk of a crash.

Manufacturer remedy

DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and repair as necessary, free of charge. The recall began March 17, 2021. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-873.

Notes

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Other Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX model years

Check your 2021 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Thomas Built Buses VIN