Recall 12V297 covers 163 2010-2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner and Minotour buses for hard-opening roof hatches. Repair is free through franchised Thomas Built Buses dealers.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 163 2010-2013 Saf-T-Liner C2, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner Ef, and Saf-T-Liner Hdx non-school buses under recall 12V297 because SMI Prolo roof hatches can require too much force to open. In an emergency, that can hinder bus evacuation and injure occupants; the 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 C2, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner Ef, and Saf-T-Liner Hdx buses is part of the emergency exit system. It is built into the roof so passengers and crew have another way out if the main doors are blocked.
On affected buses, the rear plate assemblies rub with too much friction against the nylon rear pop-up support. That extra resistance makes the hatch harder to open than the federal safety standard allows. The hatch is still the same basic emergency-exit part, but the opening force is too high for the standard it has to meet.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is the force needed to open the roof hatch, so an owner or driver is unlikely to notice it during routine driving unless the hatch is tested.
Who's affected?
Spans the Saf-T-Liner C2, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner Ef, and Saf-T-Liner Hdx across 2010-2013, all tied to the body structure.
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body structure |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Ef | body structure |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Ef | body structure |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Ef | body structure |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body structure |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body structure |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Ef | body structure |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body structure |
| Units affected | 163 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
In an emergency, hindered bus egress can delay evacuation and result in injury to vehicle occupants. If your VIN is included, keep exits clear and schedule recall service with 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 2010-2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner Ef, or Saf-T-Liner Hdx is included in this recall.
- Use the Thomas Built Buses owner notice mailed on August 22, 2012, if you have it; if not, reference recall number 12V297 when you call.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer about the free Prolo roof hatch service kit that fixes the excessive emergency-exit opening force.
- Ask the dealer whether the bus needs inspection before passenger service if the roof hatch is hard to open.
- Bring any service records or owner documents related to the SMI Prolo roof hatch repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician uses the SMI service kit and repair instructions to correct the Prolo roof hatch hardware. The work addresses friction between the rear plate assemblies and the nylon rear pop-up supports, so the emergency roof hatches open within the required force range. The remedy was listed as free of charge, and the safety recall began on August 22, 2012. Contact the dealer with campaign 12V297 and ask whether the service kit repair is complete for your VIN.
Timeline
| June 28, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 22, 2012 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V297?
Recall 12V297 covers 163 2010-2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner Ef, and Saf-T-Liner Hdx non-school buses with SMI Prolo roof hatches. Excess friction in the hatch support parts can make the emergency roof hatch harder to open than federal bus emergency-exit rules allow.
What should I do if my 2010-2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner Ef, or Saf-T-Liner Hdx is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 12V297. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and reference recall 12V297. SMI provides the service kit and repair instructions free of charge.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to correct the defect at no cost, and the recall remedy says SMI will provide service kits and repair instructions to dealers and owners free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a harder-to-open emergency roof hatch. In an emergency, that higher opening force can slow exit from the bus and injure occupants. The fix is to have the affected hatch parts serviced through the free recall remedy.
When were owners notified about recall 12V297?
The safety recall began on August 22, 2012. If you own one of these buses and never received a notice, check your VIN and call a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer with recall number 12V297.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V297000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-336-889-4871 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V297 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V297000 |
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 →