Recall 11V359 covers 836 2011 Fccc B2 and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses for grid-heater short circuits. Repair is free at authorized facilities.
Fccc is recalling 836 2011 B2 and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses because the intake air grid heater can short circuit after excessive internal heat. A short circuit in that heater raises the risk of a vehicle fire and injury to occupants; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The intake air grid heater on the 2011 Fccc B2 and Saf-T-Liner C2 is part of the diesel engine's air intake system. It warms air entering the engine, which helps specific MBE900 EPA04 and EPA07 engines start and run as designed, especially in colder conditions. The heater sits in the intake path and uses electrical heat, so it depends on controlled temperature and intact internal wiring.
On affected buses, the heater is exposed to excessive internal temperatures. That heat can cause an internal short circuit, which means electrical current travels where it should not. Once that happens, the grid heater can fail instead of heating the intake air as intended.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or fleet operator should not wait for a dashboard light, starting change, or drivability symptom to decide whether the bus is included.
Who's affected?
Covers the B2 chassis and Saf-T-Liner C2 bus for the same engine and cooling system issue.
| 2011 Fccc B2 | Engine and engine cooling |
|---|---|
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | Engine and engine cooling |
| Units affected | 836 |
A matching 2011 model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
A short-circuited grid heater can start a vehicle fire and injure vehicle occupants. If your VIN is included, schedule the repair soon and ask the repair facility whether the bus needs special handling before service. Repair will be free at any franchised Fccc dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011 Fccc B2 or Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Fccc dealer or Detroit Diesel authorized repair facility about the free intake-air-grid-heater repair that fixes the short-circuit fire risk.
- Ask whether the repair has already been completed before putting the bus back into regular service.
- Bring the recall notice if Daimler Trucks mailed one. If not, reference recall number 11V359 when you call.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, an Fccc technician confirms the bus is covered, then routes the intake air grid heater repair through a Detroit Diesel Corporation authorized repair facility. The repair addresses the heater short circuit and failure condition described for B2 and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with the listed MBE900 engines. The bus repair is free under the recall. The source record says the safety recall began on July 29, 2011, so the service desk should treat this as an active recall repair path, not a customer paid repair.
Timeline
| July 19, 2011 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 29, 2011 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 11V359?
Recall 11V359 covers 836 2011 Fccc B2 and Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with specific MBE900 engines. The intake air grid heater can short circuit and fail from excessive internal temperatures, creating fire and injury risk. The repair is free.
What should I do if my 2011 Fccc B2 or Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 11V359. If it is, contact an authorized service facility to arrange the intake air grid heater repair. Reference recall number 11V359 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the defect repair at no cost, and the recall remedy says the buses will be repaired free of charge. The work is performed by Detroit Diesel Corporation authorized repair facilities.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a vehicle fire and injury to occupants. The intake air grid heater can short circuit after excessive internal temperatures. If your VIN is included, arrange the free repair and ask the service facility how to handle the bus until the work is complete.
What if I bought this bus used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. Check your VIN to confirm whether the bus is included, then reference recall number 11V359 when you contact the authorized repair facility.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/11V359000 |
|---|---|
| Fccc customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 11V359 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 11V359000 |
Source documents
-
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 2, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →