Recall 13V539 affects 73 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 buses for seat track rivets. Repair is free at franchised Thomas Built Buses dealers.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 73 2014 Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses because the seat-track rivets have an installation defect. In a crash, improperly seated rivets can keep the seat belt anchorages from working as designed and increase the risk of injury; the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The seat track in a 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus is the metal rail that anchors passenger seats to the floor. The seats depend on that rail, and on the rivets through it, to stay fixed in place when the bus is carrying students and other passengers. A rivet is a permanent fastener that clamps parts together after it is set.
On recalled buses, the rivets used to attach the seat track to the floor were not seated correctly during installation. When a rivet is not fully set, it does not clamp the seat track against the floor with the intended force. That leaves the seat mounting less secure than designed, even though the seat and floor panel can look normal from inside the bus.
There is no warning sign before failure. Owners and fleet operators should not expect a light, sound, or visible seat movement to appear first.
Who's affected?
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 73 |
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 a crash, improperly seated seat track rivets can keep the seat belt anchorages from performing as designed. That increases injury risk. If your VIN is included, schedule service promptly and ask the dealer to check the seat track mounting. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and ask about the free seat-track reinforcement for your VIN.
- Reference recall number 13V539 when you call, or DTNA recall FL-651 if the dealer asks for the manufacturer number.
- Bring the owner notice if you have it, and ask the dealer to inspect the seat-track rivets and reinforce the mounting as required.
- Keep riders properly belted and avoid using any seat with loose or damaged track hardware until the dealer inspection is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician reinforces the seat track mounting where required. The work focuses on the floor attachment points for the school bus seats, where improperly seated rivets left the seat track less secure than intended. Parts and labor are covered by the recall. If your VIN is included, ask the dealer to confirm that campaign 13V539 is open for your bus before arranging the appointment, since the repair path is tied to the VIN.
Timeline
| October 30, 2013 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 20, 2013 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 13V539?
Recall 13V539 covers 73 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with seat track rivets that were not properly seated. In a crash, the seat belt anchorages can fail to perform as designed, increasing injury risk. Thomas Built Buses dealers reinforce the seat track mounting for free.
What should I do if my 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 13V539. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the seat track mounting reinforcement. Reference recall number 13V539 and Thomas Built Buses recall number FL-651 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost, and the remedy for this recall says dealers will reinforce the seat track mounting free of charge. The recall repair began on December 20, 2013.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is tied to the seat belt anchorages. If the seat track rivets were not properly seated, the anchorages can fail to perform as designed in a crash, increasing injury risk. Confirm the VIN and have the dealer complete the free reinforcement.
What if my school district bought the bus used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall coverage follows the VIN, not the first owner. If the bus changed hands or never received a letter, check your VIN, then call a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer with recall number 13V539.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/13V539000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-503-745-5219 |
| NHTSA recall # | 13V539 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 13V539000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Investigation Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →