Recall 15V425 covers 3,013 2001-2013 Thomas Built Buses buses for emergency door handle corrosion. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 3,013 2001-2013 Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef, and other non-school buses because the outside emergency door handle stem can corrode and separate from the emergency door opening mechanism. That delay can slow evacuation in an emergency and raise injury risk for occupants; Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The outside emergency door handle on these 2001-2013 Thomas Built Buses buses is the handle a rescuer or driver uses from outside the bus to open an emergency exit. A metal stem connects that handle to the door's opening mechanism. When the handle is pulled, the stem transfers that motion to the latch so the door opens.
On affected Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Er, Saf-T-Liner Er, Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Saf-T-Liner Conventional, Saf-T-Liner FS65, TL-960, Saf-T-Liner Efx, and Vista buses, that stem is exposed to corrosion. DTNA's review tied the corrosion to water entering around the handle retention pin and gasket area. As corrosion builds, the stem weakens and can separate from the outside handle, leaving the handle unable to move the opening mechanism.
There is no warning sign before failure. The filing does not list a dashboard light, sound, or operating symptom that alerts a driver before the emergency door handle stem fails.
Who's affected?
Spans the Saf-T-Liner family, TL-960, and Vista across the 2001-2013 model years, with the same body-door component listed throughout.
| 2008 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Er | body structure |
| 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Er | body structure |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef | body structure |
| 2008 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef | body structure |
| 2005 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef | body structure |
| 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2004 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2005 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2007 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2008 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2007 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2009 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2003 Thomas Saf-T-Liner Conventional | body structure |
| 2001 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner FS65 | body structure |
| 2005 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner FS65 | body structure |
| 2006 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner FS65 | body structure |
| 2007 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner FS65 | body structure |
| 2003 Thomas Built Buses TL-960 | body structure |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef | body structure |
| 2002 Thomas Built Buses TL-960 | body structure |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | body structure |
| 2002 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef | body structure |
| 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef | body structure |
| 2004 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef | body structure |
| 2006 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef | body structure |
| 2007 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef | body structure |
| 2009 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef | body structure |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef | body structure |
| 2005 Thomas Saf-T-Liner Conventional | body structure |
| 2004 Thomas Saf-T-Liner Conventional | body structure |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Ef | body structure |
| 2006 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2009 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body structure |
| 2005 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2006 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2002 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Er | body structure |
| 2004 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Er | body structure |
| 2008 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner FS65 | body structure |
| 2004 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner FS65 | body structure |
| 2003 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner FS65 | body structure |
| 2002 Thomas Saf-T-Liner Conventional | body structure |
| 2001 Thomas Saf-T-Liner Conventional | body structure |
| 2002 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner FS65 | body structure |
| 2002 Thomas Built Buses Vista | body structure |
| 2002 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Mvp-Er | body structure |
| Units affected | 3,013 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 1 field incident to date. |
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?
If the stem corrodes, the door handle can detach from the emergency door opening mechanism. That delays door opening and bus evacuation during an emergency, increasing injury risk for occupants. Schedule the recall repair so the stems are replaced or protected against corrosion. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2001-2013 Thomas Built Buses vehicle is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free repair that replaces or protects the emergency-door-handle stem against corrosion.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. Reference recall number 15V425 when you call.
- Ask Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-745-8000 for help with service questions tied to this emergency-door-handle recall.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician checks the emergency door handle stems that link the outside handles to the emergency door opening mechanisms. The dealer will replace the stems or add corrosion protection, depending on the vehicle condition. The recall repair is free, and parts and labor are covered. If you've already paid out of pocket for a repair tied to this door handle stem corrosion, the manufacturer's general reimbursement plan covers documented expenses. Bring your repair paperwork to the service desk.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| July 6, 2015 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| August 26, 2015 | Dealer notification began |
| August 26, 2015 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 26, 2015 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 24, 2015 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 15V425?
Recall 15V425 covers 3,013 2001-2013 Thomas Built Buses non-school buses with emergency door handle stems that can corrode. If the stem corrodes, the outside emergency door handle can detach from the opening mechanism. Dealers will replace the stems or protect them against corrosion for free.
What should I do if my 2001-2013 Thomas Built Buses bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 15V425. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the emergency door handle stem repair. Reference recall 15V425 or Thomas Built Buses recall FL-685 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 15V425, a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer will either replace the emergency door handle stems or protect them against corrosion free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is delayed emergency exit from the bus. Corrosion can let the outside emergency door handle detach from the opening mechanism, slowing door opening and evacuation. In an emergency, that delay increases the risk of injury to bus occupants.
When did Thomas Built Buses notify owners?
Thomas Built Buses mailed an interim owner notice on August 28, 2015, and the recall began on December 24, 2015. If you manage one of these buses and never received a notice, check your VIN and call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-745-8000.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/15V425000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-745-8000 |
| NHTSA recall # | 15V425 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 15V425000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 31, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →