Recall 17V729 covers 51 2016-2017 Thomas Built Buses school buses for fracturing seat belt buckle rods. Free repair at franchised Thomas Built Buses dealers.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 51 2016-2017 Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, and Minotour school buses because the seat belt buckle mount rod can fracture under load. In a crash, that failure can leave the seat occupant unrestrained and increase injury risk; Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
In NHTSA campaign 17V729, the affected 2016-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Minotour, and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses have IMMI-brand 3-point lap and shoulder belts. The belt buckle is the latch point for the seat belt, and its mount rod helps hold that buckle to the seat structure when the belt is loaded.
On these buses, the buckle mount rod can fracture under load. If that rod breaks, the buckle is less able to hold the belt assembly in the position needed during a crash or hard impact. That is why the seats do not meet the seat belt anchorage requirement in FMVSS 210.
There is no warning sign before failure. The buckle and belt can look normal before the mount rod fractures, so the VIN and seat equipment decide whether this recall applies.
Who's affected?
Covers four Thomas Built Buses models across the 2016-2017 model years, all tied to the same seat belt component.
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat belt |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat belt |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat belt |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat belt |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat belt |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat belt |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat belt |
| Units affected | 51 |
| 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?
If the buckle mount rod fractures during a crash, the seat occupant can be left unrestrained, increasing the risk of injury. There is no listed warning sign before this crash condition, so confirm whether your VIN is included and schedule the replacement 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, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Minotour, or Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free seat belt buckle rod replacement that fixes the fracture-prone buckle mount.
- Reference recall number 17V729 and Thomas Built Buses recall FL-753 when you call.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and ask the dealer which belt positions need repair before the bus returns to service.
What happens at the repair
At an authorized Thomas Built Buses service facility, a technician replaces the seat belt buckle rods on the affected seats. The recall repair is available, and parts and labor are covered. The repair addresses buckle mount rods that can fracture under load on buses equipped with IMMI-brand 3-point lap and shoulder belts. Ask the service desk to confirm the affected seating positions before work begins.
Timeline
| November 17, 2017 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 15, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| January 15, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| January 15, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| May 23, 2018 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 17V729?
Recall 17V729 covers 51 2016-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, and Minotour school buses with IMMI-brand 3-point lap and shoulder belts. The seat belt buckle mount rod can fracture under load, and dealers will replace the rods for free.
What should I do if my 2016-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, or Minotour is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 17V729. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule replacement of the seat belt buckle rods. Reference recall number 17V729 or FL-753 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Thomas Built Buses dealers will replace the affected seat belt buckle rods free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for buses included in recall 17V729.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loss of restraint in a crash. If the buckle mount rod fractures under crash load, the seated occupant is not properly restrained, increasing injury risk. The repair replaces the buckle rods so the seat belt anchorage can perform as required.
When did Thomas Built Buses notify owners about recall 17V729?
Thomas Built Buses issued an interim owner notification on December 11, 2017, and the recall began on May 23, 2018. If you manage one of these buses and never received a notice, check the VIN and call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/17V729000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 17V729 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 17V729000 |
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 →