Recall 12V570 affects 6,296 2011-2013 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses for fan pulley failure. Repair is free at Cummins authorized service facilities.
Recall 12V570 covers 6,296 2011-2013 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with Cummins ISB6.7 diesel engines because the engine fan pulley can fatigue and fail. If the belt loses engagement of the water pump, the cooling system can overheat, disabling the bus and forcing occupants to transfer to another vehicle; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The fan pulley on the 2011-2013 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses sits on the front of the Cummins ISB6.7 diesel engine. It is part of the accessory drive system, which uses the engine's rotation to turn parts such as the radiator fan, engine water pump, and refrigerant compressor.
On affected buses, the web of the pulley, the center section that supports the pulley rim, fatigues over time. As that metal section weakens, the pulley can break instead of keeping the accessory drive moving. When the pulley fails, the driven components lose the steady rotation they need to cool the engine and run the connected systems.
There is no warning sign before failure. The recall record does not identify a noise, warning light, or driver-noticeable symptom before the fan pulley breaks.
Who's affected?
The Saf-T-Liner C2 appears across the 2011, 2012, and 2013 model years, with the diesel engine involved for each year.
| 2011 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 | Diesel |
|---|---|
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | Diesel |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | Diesel |
| Units affected | 6,296 |
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?
Fan belt disengagement can stop the water pump from cooling the engine. The bus can overheat, exceed temperature limits, and become disabled. If occupants have to exit and transfer to another vehicle, that transfer creates an injury risk. Schedule service promptly. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2013 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built dealer or Cummins authorized service facility to confirm repair handling for recall number 12V570.
- Ask for the free fan drive pulley repair that keeps the belt engaged with the water pump and helps prevent engine overheating.
- Bring the recall notice if Cummins or Thomas Built sent one. If not, reference recall number 12V570 when you call.
- Avoid carrying passengers until the repair status is confirmed, because an occupied disabled school bus requires passenger transfer.
What happens at the repair
Because the remedy status is not listed, the dealer process should be treated as not confirmed open in this article. The source remedy says repairs are performed by Cummins authorized service facilities. At the service visit, the technician installs a new fan drive pulley on the engine accessory drive system. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with the pulley and labor covered under the recall.
Timeline
| December 11, 2012 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 4, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 12V570?
Recall 12V570 covers 6,296 2011-2013 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with Cummins ISB6.7 diesel engines. The engine fan pulley can fatigue and fail, which can stop water-pump drive, overheat the cooling system, and disable the bus. Cummins authorized service facilities install a new fan drive pulley for free.
What should I do if my 2011-2013 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 12V570. If it is, contact a Cummins authorized service facility or call Cummins at 1-812-377-5000 to arrange the free fan drive pulley replacement. Reference recall number 12V570 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the safety defect at no cost, and the recall remedy states that a new fan drive pulley will be installed free of charge by Cummins authorized service facilities.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a disabled occupied school bus. If the fan pulley fails, the fan belt can lose engagement with the water pump, the cooling system can overheat, and the bus can exceed temperature limits. If students or other occupants must exit and transfer vehicles, injury risk increases.
When did the recall repair start?
The safety recall began on January 4, 2013. Because that date has passed, owners can contact Cummins or a Cummins authorized service facility now to confirm repair availability for an included 2011-2013 Thomas Built Saf-T-Liner C2.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/12V570000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built customer service | 1-812-377-5000 |
| NHTSA recall # | 12V570 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 12V570000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →