Recall 16V080 covers 878 2016-2017 Thomas Built Buses school buses with peeling stop-arm decals. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 878 2016-2017 Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Saf-T-Liner Efx, and Minotour school buses because reflective decals on the stop arms can peel loose. Without the reflective decal, the stop arm is harder for other drivers to see, increasing crash risk; Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The school bus stop arm is the folding sign that extends from the side of a bus when students are boarding or leaving. On 2016-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, and Saf-T-Liner C2 buses in this recall, that arm carries a reflective STOP decal. The decal helps the stop arm stay visible and readable as a pedestrian safety device.
The problem is with certain SMI Transpec T6000, T6100, and T7000 series stop arms installed on these buses. A manufacturing process problem kept the STOP decal from staying bonded to the plastic blade. The decal can peel loose from the arm, which leaves the bus with a stop arm that does not meet the required school bus pedestrian safety standard.
There is no warning sign before failure. During inspection, a peeling, loose, or missing reflective STOP decal is the visible condition to look for.
Who's affected?
Covers four Thomas Built Buses bus lines from the 2016 and 2017 model years, all tied to the school bus stop arm assembly.
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | School bus stop arm assembly |
|---|---|
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | School bus stop arm assembly |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | School bus stop arm assembly |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | School bus stop arm assembly |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | School bus stop arm assembly |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | School bus stop arm assembly |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | School bus stop arm assembly |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | School bus stop arm assembly |
| Units affected | 878 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents 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?
Without the reflective decal, the stop arms are harder for other drivers to see, which increases the risk of a crash around the bus. Treat damaged or missing stop arm markings as a reason to schedule service soon. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2016-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, or Saf-T-Liner C2 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free stop-arm blade assembly replacement that restores the reflective stop-arm visibility.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and reference recall number 16V080 when you call.
- Inspect the stop arm decal before each route until the dealer repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician replaces the stop arm blade assemblies covered by the recall. The work addresses stop arms with reflective decals that can peel loose from the blade assembly. Replacement blade assemblies are provided for affected buses, and the recall repair is free. Ask the service desk to confirm that the school bus stop arm assembly is included before the work begins.
Timeline
| February 10, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| April 9, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| April 9, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| April 9, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| April 11, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V080?
Recall 16V080 covers 878 2016-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with certain Transpec stop arms. The reflective decal on the stop arm can peel loose, reducing visibility to other drivers.
What should I do if my 2016-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, or Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 16V080. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule replacement of the stop arm blade assemblies. Reference recall number 16V080 or FL-700 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and this recall provides free replacement of the stop arm blade assemblies. Parts and labor are covered at a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced visibility of the school bus stop arm. Under NHTSA campaign 16V080, a missing or loose reflective decal makes the stop arm harder for other drivers to see, increasing crash risk around the bus.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall repair began on April 11, 2016. For an included bus, the repair path is replacement of the stop arm blade assemblies at no charge. A dealer can confirm parts and scheduling for the specific VIN.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V080000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-745-8000 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V080 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V080000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →