Recall 17V587 covers 53 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses school buses with missing 3-point seat-belt reinforcement brackets. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 53 2014-2018 Saf-T-Liner Hdx and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses because seats with 3-point seat belts were built without a reinforcement bracket. Without that bracket, the seat can be inadequately secured in a crash, raising injury risk; Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The passenger seats in affected 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses use Freedman 3-point belted seats. A 3-point belt uses both a lap belt and shoulder belt, and the seat structure has to hold those belt loads in place during a sudden stop or crash. The reinforcement bracket is part of that support system.
On these buses, that reinforcement bracket is missing from certain seats. Without the bracket, the seat anchorage does not have the reinforcement it was designed to have and does not meet the anchorage requirements described in recall 17V587. That leaves the belted seat less supported when belt loads are applied.
There is no warning sign before failure. A missing bracket is hidden in the seat structure, so an owner or fleet operator is not expected to notice a noise, warning light, or change in normal driving before inspection.
Who's affected?
Spans two Saf-T-Liner models across five model years, all tied to the same seat assembly component.
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 53 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
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?
A missing reinforcement bracket can leave a seat inadequately secured and increases the risk of injury in a crash. This is not a driver-control defect, but the seat attachment matters during impact. Schedule the inspection soon, especially for buses carrying passengers. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses 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 seat inspection and reinforcement-bracket installation for seats with 3-point seat belts.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and reference recall number 17V587 when you call.
- Avoid using seating positions with 3-point seat belts until the dealer verifies the reinforcement brackets are installed.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions about recall 17V587 or DTNA recall FL-747.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician inspects the seats equipped with 3-point seat belts and installs any missing reinforcement brackets. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. The inspection focuses on the seat structure tied to the belt system, so the technician checks for the required bracket and adds it where it is missing. If the bus is already scheduled for service, ask the service desk to confirm recall 17V587 is included on the repair order before the vehicle is returned.
Timeline
| September 21, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| November 19, 2017 | Dealer notification began |
| November 19, 2017 | Dealer notification ended |
| November 19, 2017 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| March 15, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V587?
Recall 17V587 covers 53 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with seats that have 3-point seat belts. A missing reinforcement bracket can leave the seat inadequately secured, increasing injury risk in a crash.
What should I do if my 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx or Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 17V587. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the seat inspection and bracket installation. Reference recall number 17V587 and Thomas Built Buses recall number FL-747 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Thomas Built Buses dealers will inspect the affected seats and install any missing reinforcement brackets free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 17V587?
The safety risk is that an affected seat with a missing reinforcement bracket is not adequately secured. In a crash, that defect increases the risk of injury for the person using that seat.
When did owner notices go out for recall 17V587?
Thomas Built Buses mailed an interim owner notice on November 7, 2017, and the recall began on March 15, 2018. If you manage one of these buses and never received a notice, check your VIN and call 1-800-547-0712 with recall number FL-747.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V587000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V587 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V587000 |
Source documents
-
Download Misc. Document (PDF) - Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Recall Investigation 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 25, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →