Recall 13V537 covers 328 2012-2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx and Saf-T-Liner Hdx school buses for missing seat-mount U-bolts. Dealer repair is free.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 328 2012-2014 Saf-T-Liner Efx and Saf-T-Liner Hdx school buses because a U-bolt intended to reinforce certain seat installations was not installed during assembly. In a crash, a seat without that reinforcement can fail to stay mounted to the chassis and increase injury risk; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
A U-bolt is a U-shaped metal fastener that wraps around a structural piece and clamps a seat installation to the chassis. In these 2012-2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx and Saf-T-Liner Hdx school buses, it is intended to reinforce selected seat mounts, so the seat stays tied to the bus structure under normal loads.
The recall problem is that the U-bolt was left out during assembly on the affected seat installations. Without that reinforcement, the seat attachment does not have the extra clamp that the design calls for. The seat can still look installed, but the mount is missing a hidden piece of hardware that helps carry load into the chassis.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or fleet technician will not see the missing U-bolt during normal use; the seat needs a dealer inspection to confirm whether the reinforcement is present.
Who's affected?
Covers Saf-T-Liner Efx and Saf-T-Liner Hdx buses from the 2012, 2013, and 2014 model years, all involving the seat assembly.
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat assembly |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat assembly |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 328 |
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?
Seats that are not mounted correctly can separate from the chassis in a crash, increasing injury risk. The risk appears during the crash itself, so there is no warning sign to rely on during normal driving. Schedule the recall repair soon. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2012-2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx or Saf-T-Liner Hdx is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and ask whether the free U-bolt installation is open for your VIN.
- Ask for the U-bolt installation that reinforces the seat mounts to the chassis.
- Bring the recall notice if Thomas Built Buses mailed one. If not, reference recall number 13V537 when you call.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-503-745-5219 with questions before the dealer visit.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician installs the missing U-bolts required to reinforce the affected seat installations to the chassis. The dealer repair will be free once available for your bus, with parts and labor covered under the recall. The repair description does not give a service time, so ask the service desk how long the bus needs to stay at the dealership when you schedule service.
Timeline
| October 30, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 13, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V537?
Recall 13V537 covers 328 2012-2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx and Saf-T-Liner Hdx school buses with missing U-bolts for certain seat installations. In a crash, the seats can fail to stay mounted to the chassis, increasing injury risk.
What should I do if my 2012-2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx or Saf-T-Liner Hdx is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 13V537. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the U-bolt installation. Reference recall number 13V537 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Thomas Built Buses dealers will install the required U-bolts free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for buses included in recall 13V537.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is seat movement during a crash. Recall 13V537 says a missing U-bolt can leave certain seats without the intended reinforcement to the chassis. If the bus crashes, those seats can fail to stay mounted, increasing injury risk.
What if I bought this Thomas Built Buses school 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 in recall 13V537, then call a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and ask for the U-bolt installation.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V537000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-503-745-5219 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V537 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V537000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (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 →