Recall 10V246 covers 39 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses for a park-feature defect. Eaton performs the repair free.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 39 2011 Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses because the Eaton hybrid transmission park feature can fail to engage. If the park feature does not hold, the bus can move without warning and increase the risk of injury or a crash; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The automatic transmission on the 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 moves engine power to the drive wheels and includes a park feature to hold the bus in place when parked. On these school buses, the concern is inside certain Eaton hybrid transmissions. The park feature has to engage cleanly so the bus stays secured after the driver selects park.
In the affected transmission, the reverse idler shaft can contact the park feature. Those parts are not supposed to bind against each other. When they do, the park feature does not engage, so the transmission is not actually holding the bus in park even though the driver selected it.
There is no warning sign before failure. The owner or driver does not get a separate symptom to confirm the park feature failed before relying on it.
Who's affected?
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | automatic transmission |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 39 |
Not every 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 bus is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
If the park feature fails to engage, the bus can move without warning, which raises the risk of injury or a crash. Treat the Saf-T-Liner C2 as unsecured until the driver confirms park has engaged, and schedule recall service soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is included in this recall.
- Contact Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 to confirm the current repair path for recall number 10V246.
- Ask who will perform the free transmission park-feature repair that prevents the bus from moving without warning.
- Bring the recall notice if Thomas Built Buses has mailed one, and reference recall number 10V246 when you call.
- Set the parking brake and secure the bus before leaving it parked until the repair path is confirmed.
What happens at the repair
The remedy notice says DTNA began owner notification during November 2010 and that Eaton performs the recall remedy free of charge. At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician or service desk should verify the VIN and coordinate the Eaton work on the hybrid transmission park feature. The repair path centers on the transmission park feature, where the reverse idler shaft can bind and keep park from engaging. If the repair still needs to be completed, the final dealer coordinated remedy is free once available for the VIN. Parts and labor are covered under the recall.
Timeline
| June 7, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 17, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V246?
Recall 10V246 covers 39 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with certain Eaton hybrid transmissions. The reverse idler shaft can bind with the park feature, preventing park from engaging. Eaton performs the recall remedy free of charge.
What should I do if my 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 10V246. If it is, contact a Thomas Built Buses service contact at 1-800-547-0712 or Eaton at 1-800-826-4357 to arrange the free remedy. Reference recall 10V246 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair to be performed at no cost, and the manufacturer filing says Eaton performs this remedy free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for included buses.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is unintended movement while the bus is parked. If the park feature does not engage, the bus can move without warning, increasing the risk of personal injury or a crash. Confirm the VIN and arrange the free Eaton remedy.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V246000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V246 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V246000 |
Source documents
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 →