Recall 18V192 covers 6,606 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses school buses for cracked wall-seat brackets. Dealer repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 6,606 2014-2018 Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Minotour, and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with certain Syntec-brand S3B wall-mounted seats because the wall mounting bracket can crack. If the seat breaks loose in a crash, an occupant faces a higher injury risk, and Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The affected 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses school buses use Syntec S3B non-restraint seats mounted to the wall of the bus. The wall mounting bracket is the metal anchor that helps hold the seat frame against the vehicle wall, so the seat stays in place during normal use and during a crash.
On Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Minotour, and Saf-T-Liner C2 buses in this recall, that bracket can develop a metal fatigue crack under extreme operating conditions. As the crack grows, the bracket can fracture. If that happens during a crash, the seat can fail to stay secured in place, which is the safety concern in campaign 18V192.
There is no warning sign before failure. Owners and fleet operators should not rely on noise, movement, or a visible change at the seat as proof that the bracket is still sound.
Who's affected?
Covers Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Minotour, and Saf-T-Liner C2 buses across the 2014-2018 model years, all tied to the seat assembly.
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat assembly |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat assembly |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat assembly |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat assembly |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat assembly |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat assembly |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat assembly |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat assembly |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 6,606 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 2 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?
In a crash, a passenger seat that separates from the wall leaves the occupant less protected and increases the risk of injury. Confirm whether the bus is included, then schedule the added wall mounting bracket promptly and keep service records. 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 Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Minotour, or Saf-T-Liner C2 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free wall mounting bracket repair that helps keep the Syntec wall-mounted seat secured in a crash.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and reference recall number 18V192 and Thomas Built Buses recall FL-763 when you call.
- Avoid using affected wall-mounted seats until the added bracket is installed.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions about the repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician installs an additional wall mounting bracket for the affected wall mounted seat assembly. That added bracket helps keep the seat secured to the bus body if the original bracket cracks. The recall repair is available now, and the bracket, related hardware, and labor are free under campaign 18V192. Ask the service desk to confirm the bus is included by VIN before the work order is opened.
Timeline
| March 26, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 21, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| May 21, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 21, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| May 10, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V192?
Recall 18V192 covers 6,606 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Minotour, and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with certain Syntec S3B wall-mounted seats. The seat wall mounting bracket can crack, and dealers will install an added wall mounting bracket for free.
What should I do if my 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, Minotour, or Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 18V192. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the added wall mounting bracket installation. Reference recall number 18V192 and Thomas Built Buses recall number FL-763 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the recall repair at no cost, and Thomas Built Buses dealers will install the additional wall mounting bracket free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for included buses regardless of where the bus is operated or serviced.
What is the safety risk?
In recall 18V192, the risk is occupant injury during a crash. If the wall mounting bracket cracks and the seat does not stay secured to the wall, the person in that seat faces increased injury risk. The free repair adds another bracket to keep the seat secured.
When did owner notices go out for recall 18V192?
Thomas Built Buses issued an interim owner notice on May 9, 2018, and the recall began on May 10, 2018. If you manage an affected school bus and never received a notice, check your VIN and call a franchised dealer with recall number 18V192.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V192000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V192 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V192000 |
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 →