How many recalls does the 2004 Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2 have?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the 2004 Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2 as of October 16, 2026. Each includes the defect description, safety consequence, and the remedy Thomas will perform. New recalls can be issued at any time; this page is refreshed from NHTSA daily.

How do I tell if my 2004 Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2 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 2004 Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2.

Are recall repairs on a 2004 Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2 free?

Usually. Federal law requires Thomas to remedy recalls on the 2004 SAF-T-Liner C2 free of charge at an authorized Thomas 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 2004 Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2 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 2004 Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2, check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm every recall has been remedied.

How many owner complaints are on file for the 2004 Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2?

No owner complaints have been filed with NHTSA on the 2004 Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2.

NHTSA vehicle safety data

2004 Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2 Recalls, Ratings & Complaints

The 2004 Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2 has 4 NHTSA recall campaigns and 0 owner complaints on file as of October 16, 2026. Recall repairs are usually free at an authorized Thomas dealer.

NHTSA recall and complaint data for the 2004 Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2. Recall data is refreshed daily from NHTSA.

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

STRUCTURE:BODY

NHTSA #05V392000

Reported September 8, 2005 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 315 vehicles

Defect description

CERTAIN MY 2004 AND 2005 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 2004, AND MAY 5, 2005. THERE IS AN EXCESSIVE GAP BETWEEN ADJOINING INTERIOR PANELS ABOVE THE REAR RIGHT SIDE WINDOW WHICH DOES NOT CONFORM TO THE STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH.

Safety consequence

A NONCOMPLIANCE WITH FMVSS 221 MAY, WITHOUT WARNING, RESULT IN AN INCREASE OF A STRUCTURAL COLLAPSE OF THE SCHOOL BUS IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY IT CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE JOINT BY ADDING A BRACKET SECURED WITH SCREWS AND ADHESIVE FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 3, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT THOMAS BUILT AT 1-877-660-4938.

Notes

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-456.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236; (TTY:1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

NHTSA #05V393000

Reported September 6, 2005 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 1,395 vehicles

Defect description

CERTAIN MY 2004 FREIGHTLINER BUSINESS CLASS M2 AND THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 26 AND OCTOBER 29, 2004, EQUIPPED WITH A CATERPILLAR C-7 ENGINE AND BORG-WARNER KYS 4735 35480 55 ENGINE FAN. THE FAN SHROUD MAY BE DRAWN BACK INTO THE FAN AT HIGH ENGINE SPEEDS WHEN THE FAN CLUTCH ENGAGES. DUE TO REDUCED CLEARANCE, HEAVY CONTACT BETWEEN THE FAN AND THE SHROUD MAY CAUSE THE FAN BLADE TO FRACTURE.

Safety consequence

THE FAN MAY FRACTURE AND PIECES MAY SEPARATE FROM THE FAN BLADE. IN CERTAIN CONDITIONS, THIS MAY PRESENT A HAZARD TO PEOPLE NEAR THE VEHICLE WITH THE HOOD OPEN AND THE ENGINE RUNNING.

Manufacturer remedy

FREIGHTLINER WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE ENGINE FAN WITH A FAN THAT HAS A DIFFERENT MOUNTING OFFSET FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON JANUARY 16, 2006. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-458.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236; (TTY:1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

STEERING:COLUMN

NHTSA #05V387000

Reported September 6, 2005 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 1,840 vehicles

Defect description

CERTAIN MY 2004 AND 2005 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 2004 AND AUGUST 26, 2005. THE UPPER STEERING SHAFT PINCH BOLT MAY NOT BE CORRECTLY TIGHTENED, RESULTING IN THE POSSIBLE LOSS OF THE BOLT, ALLOWING JOINT SEPARATION AND LOSS OF STEERING.

Safety consequence

SUDDEN LOSS OF STEERING WITHOUT WARNING COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Manufacturer remedy

ALL THOMAS BUILT AND FREIGHTLINER DEALERS AND DIRECT WARRANTY CUSTOMERS WERE CALLED ON AUGUST 26, 2005, AND NOTIFIED NOT TO DRIVE THESE BUSES UNTIL THEY HAVE BEEN INSPECTED. THE REMEDY PROCEDURE CALLS FOR THE INSPECTION OF THE STEERING PINCH BOLTS FOR THE PRESENCE OF TORQUE SEAL. BOLTS WITHOUT TORQUE SEAL WILL BE TIGHTENED TO FACTORY SPECIFICATIONS AND TORQUE SEAL ADDED. FOLLOW UP NOTIFICATION BY MAIL BEGAN AUGUST 27, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT FREIGHTLINER AT 1-800-547-0712.

Notes

FREIGHTLINER RECALL NO. FL-457.CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236; (TTY:1-800-424-9153); OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING

NHTSA #05V191000

Reported April 29, 2005 · FREIGHTLINER LLC

Potentially affected: 49 vehicles

Defect description

CERTAIN THOMAS BUILT MY 2004 AND 2005 SAF-T-LINER C2 SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN AUGUST 13, 2004, AND MARCH 1, 2005. DUE TO SOFTWARE COMMUNICATION CONFLICTS, THE TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES SUCH AS THE FLASHING WARNING LIGHTS OR THE STOP SIGNAL ARM MAY NOT WORK OR MAY NOT WORK CORRECTLY. THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD REQUIREMENTS OF 108, LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT, AND STANDARD 131, SCHOOL BUS PEDESTRIAN SAFETY DEVICES.

Safety consequence

IF THE TRAFFIC CONTROL DEVICES DO NOT WORK, A VEHICLE CRASH OR PERSONAL COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

THOMAS BUILT WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 23, 2005. ALL THE OWNERS HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED AND THE BUSES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED.

Notes

CUSTOMERS CAN CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236.

Other Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2 model years

Check your 2004 Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2 VIN

Not every recall applies to every VIN in a given year. Enter the 17-character VIN from your Thomas SAF-T-Liner C2 at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether your specific vehicle has an unrepaired recall.

Check a Thomas VIN