Recall 18V253 covers 23,102 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses school buses for cracked wall-mounted seat brackets. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 23,102 2014-2018 Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, and Minotour school buses with S3B Restraint Wall Mounted Seats because a wall mounting bracket can crack. In a crash, that cracked bracket can keep the seat from staying secured to the wall, increasing injury risk for the occupant; 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 Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, and Minotour school buses use Syntec S3B restraint wall-mounted seats. A wall-mounted seat is fastened to the bus body at the wall bracket so the seat stays in position during normal use and during a crash. The rear wall mount bracket is part of that anchoring system.
On these buses, metal fatigue can start a crack in the S3B restraint seat rear wall mount bracket under certain extreme operating conditions. Fatigue means the metal weakens after repeated stress, then the crack grows until the bracket fractures. If the bracket breaks, the seat can fail to remain secured in place in a crash.
There is no warning sign before failure. A cracked bracket can leave the seat feeling normal during daily service, so the repair inspection and bracket remedy matter even if the seat appears secure.
Who's affected?
Spans 4 Thomas Built Buses model lines across the 2014-2018 model years, all tied to the seat assembly.
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat assembly |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat assembly |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat assembly |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat assembly |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat assembly |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat assembly |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat assembly |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | seat assembly |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | seat assembly |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat assembly |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | seat assembly |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 23,102 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged 2 field incidents to date. |
A matching year and model does not confirm inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
In a crash, a seat that separates from the wall raises the occupant's risk of injury. If your VIN is included, schedule the repair soon and ask the dealer what seating use is safe before the bracket is installed. 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 C2, Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, or Minotour is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free wall-bracket installation that helps keep the S3B restraint wall mounted seat secured in a crash.
- Bring the recall notice if one arrived. If not, reference recall number 18V253 when you call.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions about the seat-bracket repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician installs an additional wall mounting bracket for the S3B Restraint Wall Mounted Seats. That added bracket helps keep the seat secured to the wall if the bus is in a crash. The recall repair is available now, and parts and labor are free. When scheduling service, use recall 18V253 so the service desk can match the correct bracket repair to the affected school bus.
Timeline
| April 19, 2018 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 15, 2018 | Dealer notification began |
| June 15, 2018 | Dealer notification ended |
| June 15, 2018 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| January 3, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 18V253?
Recall 18V253 covers 23,102 2014-2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner Efx, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, and Minotour school buses with S3B Restraint Wall Mounted Seats. The wall mounting bracket can crack, so dealers will add another wall mounting bracket for free.
What should I do if my 2014-2018 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 18V253. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the added wall mounting bracket. Reference recall number 18V253 or FL-769 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost. For recall 18V253, Thomas Built Buses dealers will install the additional wall mounting bracket free of charge, with parts and labor covered.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is occupant injury in a crash if the seat does not stay secured to the wall. The repair adds another wall mounting bracket so the affected seat has the intended support. Schedule the free dealer repair once your VIN is confirmed.
What if I bought this Thomas Built Buses school bus used?
The free recall repair still applies. Recall eligibility follows the VIN, not the owner who first bought the bus. Check your VIN, then give the dealer recall number 18V253 or FL-769 so the service desk can confirm the repair path.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/18V253000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 18V253 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 18V253000 |
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 →