Recall 10V486 affects 294 2010-2011 Thomas Built Buses Mvp-Ef, Saf-T-Liner C2, and Hdx buses for defective driver-seat welds. Free repair through authorized service facilities.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 294 2010-2011 Mvp-Ef, Saf-T-Liner C2, and Hdx school buses because the Stabilus Bloc-O-Lift driver seat shock can have an improperly welded mounting tab that breaks. The seat can drop without warning and cause momentary loss of steering control, increasing crash risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The Stabilus Bloc-O-Lift driver seat shock on these 2010-2011 Thomas Built Buses Mvp-Ef, Saf-T-Liner C2, and Hdx school buses is part of the driver's seat support system. It helps the seat stay controlled as the driver adjusts or uses it, and it depends on a mounting tab welded to the shock body.
On the recalled buses, that weld was made incorrectly. The mounting tab is the anchor point for the seat shock, so a weak weld can break away from the shock body. Once that connection breaks, the seat shock no longer has a solid attachment point, and the driver's seat support no longer works as designed.
There is no warning sign before failure. The weld problem is inside the seat shock attachment, so an owner or driver should not expect a dashboard light, sound, or visible clue before the tab breaks.
Who's affected?
Spans Mvp-Ef, Saf-T-Liner C2, and Hdx buses across the 2010 and 2011 model years, all tied to the seat assembly.
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Mvp-Ef | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Mvp-Ef | seat assembly |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Hdx | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 294 |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
The driver seat can drop without warning and cause a momentary loss of steering control, increasing crash risk. Because there is no warning sign before the seat drops, keep the bus out of regular service until the seat repair is completed. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2011 Thomas Built Buses Mvp-Ef, Saf-T-Liner C2, or Hdx is included in this recall.
- Contact an authorized Thomas Built Buses service facility to confirm scheduling for the free driver-seat repair.
- Reference recall number 10V486 when you call, and ask whether the service facility needs the owner notice.
- Keep the bus out of passenger service until the driver-seat repair is complete if the seat drops or will not stay in position.
What happens at the repair
At an authorized Thomas Built Buses service facility, a Thomas Built Buses technician handles the recall repair for the Stabilus Bloc-O-Lift driver seat shock assembly. The recall filing does not spell out the exact repair step, but it identifies the failed area: the weld that holds the mounting tab to the shock body. Daimler Trucks stated that authorized Thomas Built Buses service facilities would perform the recall work free of charge. Parts and labor are covered under campaign 10V486.
Timeline
| October 14, 2010 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 24, 2010 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 10V486?
Recall 10V486 covers 294 2010-2011 Thomas Built Buses Mvp-Ef, Saf-T-Liner C2, and Hdx school buses with certain Stabilus Bloc-O-Lift driver seats. The weld holding the mounting tab to the shock body can break, and authorized Thomas Built Buses service facilities repair it for free.
What should I do if my 2010-2011 Thomas Built Buses Mvp-Ef, Saf-T-Liner C2, or Hdx is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 10V486. If it is, contact an authorized Thomas Built Buses service facility and reference recall 10V486 when scheduling the driver-seat repair. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the recall remedy says authorized Thomas Built Buses service facilities perform the repair free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The driver seat can drop unexpectedly if the seat shock mounting-tab weld breaks. That sudden drop can cause a momentary loss of steering control and increase crash risk. Confirm the VIN, then arrange the free repair through an authorized Thomas Built Buses service facility.
What warning signs should I watch for?
There is no warning sign before the seat drops. The recall states the driver seat can drop unexpectedly without prior warning if the weld breaks. Treat VIN confirmation as the deciding step, then schedule the free seat repair if the bus is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/10V486000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 10V486 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 10V486000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →