Recall 19V550 affects 3,080 2019-2020 Thomas Built Buses school buses for roof-hatch handles that break. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 3,080 2019-2020 Saf-T-Liner Efx, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses because the external handle on the Safe Fleet Prolo roof escape hatch can break during reasonable use. If that happens, people outside the bus cannot open the hatch easily in an emergency, increasing injury risk; Thomas Built Buses dealers will repair it free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The roof escape hatch on 2019-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses is part of the emergency exit system. It gives passengers and emergency responders another opening when a door or window exit is not the right path. The external handle is the part someone uses from outside the bus to open the hatch.
On affected buses, the Safe Fleet Prolo Roof Escape hatch handle was cast with more porosity or internal voids than allowed. Those voids are small gaps inside the metal. They create weak points, so the handle can break under normal, reasonable use instead of staying intact when pulled.
There is no warning sign before failure. The handle can look normal until it breaks, which means a routine visual check will not reliably show the defect before someone tries to use the hatch.
Who's affected?
Covers four Thomas Built Buses lines across the 2019 and 2020 model years, all tied to the emergency exit structure.
| 2019 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| 2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx | body or structural component |
| 2019 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body or structural component |
| 2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body or structural component |
| 2020 Thomas Built Buses Minotour | body or structural component |
| 2019 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body or structural component |
| 2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body or structural component |
| 2019 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body or structural component |
| Units affected | 3,080 |
| 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 this recall applies to your specific bus.
What's the safety risk?
A broken roof hatch external handle can leave emergency responders or helpers unable to open the hatch easily from outside the bus during an emergency, increasing the risk of injury. Check whether your VIN is included and schedule the handle replacement. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx, Minotour, 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 roof-hatch handle repair.
- Tell the service desk this is recall number 19V550 and that the repair installs a new external handle so the roof escape hatch can be opened from outside in an emergency.
- Bring the recall notice if Thomas Built Buses mailed one, or give the dealer the campaign number when you call.
- Avoid relying on the roof hatch as the only emergency access point until the handle repair is complete.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician installs a new external handle on the Safe Fleet Prolo roof escape hatch. The work addresses the handle that can break during normal use, which can block use of the hatch from outside the bus. Parts and labor are covered under the recall, so the repair is free at a Thomas Built Buses dealer. Ask the service desk to confirm recall 19V550 is open for your VIN before the appointment.
Timeline
| July 25, 2019 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| September 21, 2019 | Dealer notification began |
| September 21, 2019 | Dealer notification ended |
| September 21, 2019 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| November 15, 2019 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 19V550?
Recall 19V550 covers 3,080 2019-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx, Minotour, Saf-T-Liner Hdx, and Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with Safe Fleet Prolo roof escape hatches. The outside handle can break under reasonable use, and dealers will install a new handle for free.
What should I do if my 2019-2020 Thomas Built Buses school bus is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm the specific bus is included in recall 19V550. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the roof hatch handle replacement. Reference recall number 19V550 when you call. The repair is free.
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 install a new roof hatch handle free of charge. Parts and labor are covered for included buses.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is harder emergency access from outside the bus. If the roof hatch external handle breaks, the hatch cannot be easily opened from outside during an emergency, increasing the risk of injury. The dealer repair replaces the handle.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall repair began November 15, 2019, after an interim owner notice was issued on September 13, 2019. If your VIN is included and the handle has not been replaced, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and ask for recall 19V550.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/19V550000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 19V550 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 19V550000 |
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 24, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →