Use cautionVehicle recall · NHTSA · Published June 12, 2026
Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER HDX2 Recall: Weak Joints
DTNA recalls 2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER HDX2 school buses due to insufficient joint strength. Dealers will add fasteners free of charge starting August 2026.
A school bus with insufficient joint strength may not adequately protect passengers in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
✎ GovInfoNow plain-language explainer
Daimler Trucks North America is recalling certain 2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER HDX2 school buses because the front and mid-body interior joints may have been manufactured incorrectly. This defect results in insufficient joint strength, causing the vehicles to fail Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 221 requirements for body joint strength. The lack of adequate strength could increase the risk of injury to passengers in a crash. Read more at govinfonow.com/recall/1387676-thomas-built-saf-t-liner-hdx2-recall-weak-joints.
“Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER HDX2 Recall: Weak Joints.” GovInfoNow, updated October 11, 2026. https://govinfonow.com/recall/1387676-thomas-built-saf-t-liner-hdx2-recall-weak-joints. Based on NHTSA recall #26V388000 (https://www.nhtsa.gov/recalls?nhtsaId=26V388000).
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration announced on June 12, 2026, that Thomas Built Buses is recalling 2027 SAF-T-LINER HDX2 school buses due to insufficient joint strength that may increase injury risk in a crash. Dealers will add fasteners to secure the joints free of charge.
How to tell if you have it
Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-LINER HDX2, 2027
What to do
Dealers will add fasteners to secure the joints, free of charge. Interim notification letters are expected to be mailed July 2, 2026, with additional letters anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-574-0712.
The hazard
Front and mid-body interior joints may have been manufactured incorrectly, resulting in insufficient joint strength. This condition fails to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 221, potentially increasing the risk of injury in a crash.
Context
GovInfoNow's records show Daimler Trucks North America, LLC has 272 other recalls on record since July 6, 2011. Other recent recalls include a Freightliner Business Class M2 fire risk recall (Oct. 1, 2026), a Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2 headlight issue recall (Oct. 1, 2026), and a Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER HDX2 missing seat belt anchor recall (Aug. 24, 2026). Other recent recalls of similar products include an International IC Bus CESB body panel separation recall (March 19, 2026), an International IC Bus CESB injury risk recall (July 16, 2026), and a Gillig Low Floor Bus suspension recall (Dec. 29, 2025).
How to tell if you have this one
You have this recalled vehicle if you own a 2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER HDX2 school bus. Owners will receive interim notification letters expected to be mailed on July 2, 2026, with additional letters sent once the final remedy is available in August 2026.
Brand
Thomas Built Buses
Category
Vehicle
Based on the official NHTSA remedy
What to do — step by step
Wait for Notification
Expect an interim notification letter regarding this safety risk to be mailed to you on July 2, 2026.
Contact Customer Service
If you have questions before receiving mail, contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-574-0712 and reference recall number F1034.
Schedule Repair
Once the remedy is available in August 2026, dealers will add fasteners to secure the joints free of charge.
Official remedy
What NHTSA says to do
Dealers will add fasteners to secure the joints, free of charge. Interim notification letters, notifying owners of the safety risk, are expected to be mailed July 2, 2026. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, anticipated in August 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-574-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1034.
How this recall unfolded
Recall timeline
2 dated steps over 4 months.
1NHTSA received the defect report
2Added to GovInfoNow
Dates from the agency record only; steps without a date are left out.
The facts (hazard, remedy, dates, manufacturer) are pulled from the official NHTSA recall record. The plain-language summary and step-by-step checklist are written by GovInfoNow to make the official notice easier to act on — they don’t replace it.
Plain-language summary written by qwen3.6:35b-a3b on October 11, 2026, from the official record above. Not reviewed by a person — if it conflicts with the NHTSA notice, the notice is correct. Report an error on this page.
GovInfoNow is an independent service and is not a government agency. We republish official NHTSA recall data; we don’t issue, amend or administer recalls.