Recall 12V296 covers 1,312 2010-2013 Thomas Built Buses school buses for excessive roof-hatch opening force. Free repair through Thomas Built Buses dealers.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 1,312 2010-2013 Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Ef, and Minotour school buses because ProLo roof hatches can require too much force to open during an emergency. That can hinder bus evacuation and increase injury risk; the Thomas Built Buses dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The Prolo roof hatch on 2010-2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Ef, and Minotour school buses is part of the bus body roof. Its job is to give passengers and responders an emergency exit through the roof when a door or window exit is not the right path.
On affected buses, the rear plate assemblies and the nylon rear pop-up support do not move against each other with the intended ease. The added friction raises the force needed to open the Prolo roof hatch. That means the hatch does not meet the federal bus emergency exit standard for release force.
A driver or maintenance tech would notice the problem only by opening and testing the hatch. There is no warning sign before failure. If the hatch feels unusually stiff during inspection, report that exact condition when scheduling service.
Who's affected?
Covers Saf-T-Liner and Minotour buses across the 2010-2013 model years, all tied to the body structure.
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Ef | body structure |
| 2011 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body structure |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Ef | body structure |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Ef | body structure |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body structure |
| 2010 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body structure |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2013 Thomas Built Minotour | body structure |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Ef | body structure |
| Units affected | 1,312 |
The year and model narrow the scope, but the VIN decides. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
In an emergency, this defect can hinder bus egress and increase injury risk for occupants trying to leave the vehicle. Treat the exit problem as a safety item, especially on buses carrying passengers, and schedule the recall work promptly. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Ef, or Minotour is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to confirm the current roof-hatch repair instructions before scheduling service.
- Ask for the Prolo roof hatch service kit that fixes the high opening force that can hinder emergency exit.
- Bring the owner notice if you have it, and reference recall number 12V296 when you call.
- Avoid relying on the roof hatch as the only emergency exit until the repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician installs SMI service kit parts for the ProLo roof hatches and follows SMI repair instructions. The work addresses excess friction between the rear plate assemblies and the nylon rear pop-up support, so the emergency roof hatch opening force meets the required standard. The repair instructions and service kits are provided free of charge under recall 12V296. The safety recall began on August 22, 2012.
Timeline
| June 28, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 22, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V296?
Recall 12V296 covers 1,312 2010-2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Ef, and Minotour school buses with SMI Prolo roof hatches. Increased friction can make the emergency roof hatch opening force exceed federal bus emergency-exit requirements.
What should I do if my 2010-2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Ef, or Minotour is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 12V296. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and ask for the SMI Prolo roof hatch service kit and repair instructions. Reference recall number 12V296 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 12V296, SMI provides the service kits and repair instructions free of charge, and the dealer repair path is covered for included buses.
What is the safety risk?
In an emergency, the affected roof hatches can require too much force to open. That can slow or block evacuation from the bus and lead to occupant injury. The repair addresses the roof hatch hardware so the emergency exit opens within the required force limit.
When did the recall repair start?
The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. If your bus is included and the roof hatch repair has not been completed, contact a Thomas Built Buses dealer with recall number 12V296 and the VIN so the service desk can confirm the repair path.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V296000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-336-889-4871 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V296 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V296000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (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 →