Recall 16V629 affects 958 2015-2017 Thomas Built Buses school buses with Ricon wheelchair-lift link arms. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 958 2015-2017 Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Saf-T-Liner Efx, and Minotour school buses with certain Ricon wheelchair lifts. Oversized pivot holes can let lift-arm bearings move out of position, causing platform mounting failure and a platform fall when the doors open; Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The wheelchair lift on these 2015-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Saf-T-Liner Efx, Minotour, and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses is the powered platform used to raise and lower a passenger between the ground and the bus floor. Its folding link arms guide and support the platform as it moves, and the bearings at the pivot points keep that motion aligned.
On the recalled Ricon S Series lifts, the pivot holes in the folding link arms were made too large. That extra space lets the bearings move out of position instead of staying centered in the arm. Once the bearing shifts, the lift platform is no longer supported the way it was designed to be supported, which can lead to platform failure during use.
There is no warning sign before failure. A lift that looks normal during setup still has the same internal arm and bearing issue if the bus is included in recall 16V629.
Who's affected?
The scope spans Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, and Minotour buses across the 2015-2017 model years, all tied to adaptive/mobility equipment.
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
|---|---|
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | Equipment adaptive/mobility |
| Units affected | 958 |
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?
If lift bearings move out of position, the stowed wheelchair lift platform can move too much and stress the platform mounting. A failed mounting can let the platform fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing injury risk for the lift operator. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2015-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Saf-T-Liner Efx, Minotour, or Saf-T-Liner C2 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free wheelchair-lift inspection and repair that checks the folding link arms, bearings, and platform for damage.
- Bring the recall notice if one arrived, or reference recall number 16V629 and recall FL-716 when you call.
- Keep students and lift operators clear of the wheelchair-lift platform until the dealer completes the inspection and any needed repair.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions before scheduling.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician inspects the Ricon wheelchair lift link arms for damage and displaced bearings. The platform is also checked for cracks. Any damaged link arms, bearings, platform parts, or related lift parts are replaced free under the recall. Because a general reimbursement plan is on file, owners who already paid for this lift related repair should contact DTNA or Ricon customer service and keep repair documentation for the reimbursement request.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| August 31, 2016 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 10, 2016 | Owner notification mailed |
| October 27, 2016 | Dealer notification began |
| October 27, 2016 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 27, 2016 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 16V629?
Recall 16V629 covers 958 2015-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Saf-T-Liner Efx, Minotour, and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses equipped with certain Ricon wheelchair lifts. The folding link arms have oversized pivot holes that let bearings move out of position.
What should I do if my 2015-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Saf-T-Liner Efx, Minotour, or Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 16V629. If it is, contact a Thomas Built Buses dealer or DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 and ask for the Ricon wheelchair lift inspection under recall FL-716.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. The recall remedy says Ricon dealers will inspect the wheelchair lift link arms and platform, then replace damaged parts free of charge. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to complete the safety recall repair at no cost to the owner.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is a wheelchair lift platform that fails at its mounting point. If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform has excessive movement and the platform can fall out of the bus when the doors are opened, raising injury risk for the lift operator.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall repair began on October 10, 2016. Owners can ask a Thomas Built Buses dealer, DTNA customer service, or Ricon customer service about inspection and parts replacement for the affected wheelchair lift. Reference recall 16V629 or FL-716 when you call.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/16V629000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 16V629 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 16V629000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (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 →