Recall 10V183 affects 1,515 2009-2010 Thomas Built Buses Hdx school buses for a leaking heater coolant valve. Repair is free at Thomas Built Buses dealerships.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 1,515 2009-2010 Hdx school buses because coolant leakage into the heater core compartment can overheat or melt the heater coolant flow valve actuator. An overheated actuator can result in a vehicle fire, and the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The heater coolant flow valve on 2009-2010 Thomas Built Buses Hdx school buses controls coolant moving through the heater system. Its actuator moves the valve so heat reaches the heater core when needed. An O-ring is supposed to seal coolant away from the actuator and its PC board, the small electrical board that controls the actuator.
On affected buses, that O-ring does not keep coolant out of the heater core compartment and actuator board area. Coolant can reach the electrical board inside the actuator. When that happens, the actuator can overheat, melt, or stop working as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or service staff member should treat coolant near the heater compartment, heat damage, or a melted actuator as a reason to have the bus inspected before returning it to service.
Who's affected?
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Hdx | wiring |
|---|---|
| 2009 Thomas Built Buses Hdx | wiring |
| Units affected | 1,515 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
An overheated or melted actuator creates a vehicle fire risk. Schedule the recall repair soon, and treat any sign of overheating near the actuator as a reason to stop using the bus and call the dealer. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2009-2010 Thomas Built Buses Hdx is included in this recall.
- Review the Thomas Built Buses owner notice mailed on July 6, 2010, if you have it.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer with recall number 10V183 and ask about the free heater coolant flow valve actuator repair.
- Park the bus outside and away from structures if you smell coolant, see heater-compartment leakage, or see signs of overheating.
- Call Thomas Built Buses at 1-336-889-4871 with questions about the recall or dealer repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician handles the heater coolant flow valve actuator repair tied to coolant leakage into the heater core compartment and actuator PC board area. The filing does not name a specific replacement part, but it states that Thomas Built dealerships perform the recall work free of charge. The dealer repair will be free once available. No reimbursement program is listed for this campaign.
Timeline
| May 3, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 6, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V183?
Recall 10V183 covers 1,515 2009-2010 Thomas Built Buses Hdx school buses with a heater coolant flow valve actuator seal defect. Coolant can leak into the heater core compartment and actuator circuit board area, causing the actuator to overheat or melt and increasing fire risk.
What should I do if my 2009-2010 Thomas Built Buses Hdx is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V183. If it is, contact a Thomas Built Buses dealership and ask for the heater coolant flow valve actuator repair. Reference recall 10V183 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair covered safety defects at no cost, and the recall remedy states that Thomas Built dealerships perform this repair free of charge. If a service desk asks for payment, reference recall 10V183 and call Thomas Built at 1-336-889-4871.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is vehicle fire. The defect allows coolant to reach the heater core compartment and actuator circuit board area. If the actuator overheats or melts, it can start a fire. The remedy is a free dealer repair through Thomas Built Buses.
When did the recall repair begin?
The safety recall began on July 6, 2010. That means owners can contact a Thomas Built Buses dealership now to ask for the free repair tied to recall 10V183. Have the VIN ready so the dealer can confirm coverage before scheduling service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V183000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-336-889-4871 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V183 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V183000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Defect / Noncompliance Notice (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 3, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →