Recall 20V252 affects 7,979 2010-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx school buses for small emergency-exit lettering. Thomas Built Buses sends a free replacement label.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 7,979 2010-2020 Saf-T-Liner Hdx school buses under recall 20V252 because the rear emergency exit window instruction label has lettering that is too small. Hard-to-read exit instructions can delay occupants trying to open the window in an emergency and increase injury risk; Thomas Built Buses dealers will install a corrected label free of charge.
Does this recall apply to your specific vehicle?
The official, free per-VIN recall check is run by NHTSA. Enter your VIN and we'll forward you directly — and add you to a free watchlist so you hear about new recalls for your vehicle.
Check my VIN at NHTSARecallNotify doesn't check your VIN — NHTSA's official tool does. We use your email only to alert you to new recalls.
Watch this vehicle for recalls
Add it to your free watchlist and we will alert you as new federal recalls are posted for your year, make and model. New-recall alerts are rolling out now.
You are on the watchlist.
We will email you as new federal recalls are posted for your vehicle.
What's wrong?
The rear emergency exit window on 2010-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx school buses gives passengers and drivers another way out when the normal door path is blocked. The instruction label next to that window tells a person how to release and use the exit. For a school bus, that label is part of the emergency escape system, not just a sticker.
On affected buses, the lettering on the rear emergency exit window instruction label is too small. That means the window itself can be present, but the printed directions do not meet FMVSS 217 for bus emergency exits and window retention and release. In an evacuation, small lettering makes the instructions harder to read quickly, especially for someone who has not used that exit before.
There is no warning sign before failure. Owners, fleet managers, and drivers will not feel a mechanical symptom because the defect is in the label size, so the issue has to be confirmed by checking whether the bus is included in recall 20V252.
Who's affected?
The scope runs from 2010 through 2020 and ties the same bus line to emergency-exit structure and vehicle-label components.
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body or structural component |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body or structural component |
| 2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body or structural component |
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body or structural component |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body or structural component |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2019 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body or structural component |
| 2019 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body or structural component |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body or structural component |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body or structural component |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | body or structural component |
| 2010 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | vehicle label (placard or certification) |
| Units affected | 7,979 |
| 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?
Small exit window lettering can be hard for occupants to read during an emergency. That delay can slow the reaction to open the exit and increase injury risk. Make sure the replacement label is installed where occupants can read it. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2010-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to confirm the free rear-emergency-exit-window label repair is complete.
- Ask for the new exit-window instruction label if it has not been attached to the bus.
- Attach the new label by the rear emergency exit window so the larger lettering is readable during an exit.
- Reference recall number 20V252, or Thomas Built Buses recall FL-849, when you call.
What happens at the repair
For this recall, the fix is a replacement instruction label for the rear emergency exit window. Thomas Built Buses mails the new label by first class mail at no charge. Follow the included instructions and attach the label next to the exit window so the emergency release directions are readable. If the bus is in service or the label has not arrived, contact a Thomas Built Buses dealer and reference recall FL-849. The label and mailing are free under the recall.
Timeline
| May 5, 2020 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 3, 2020 | Dealer notification began |
| July 3, 2020 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 3, 2020 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| September 10, 2020 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 20V252?
Recall 20V252 covers 7,979 2010-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx school buses with rear emergency exit window instruction lettering that is too small. Small lettering can delay occupants trying to open the exit, increasing injury risk. Thomas Built Buses provides the replacement label for free.
What should I do if my 2010-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 20V252. If it is, confirm the rear emergency exit window label has been replaced. If the replacement label was not received, contact Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 and reference recall FL-849.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to correct the defect at no cost, and Thomas Built Buses mails the replacement rear emergency exit window label free of charge. There is no parts charge for the recall label remedy.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is delayed emergency exit use. The lettering on the rear emergency exit window instruction label is too small, which can make the instructions harder for occupants to read during an exit. That delay increases the risk of injury.
When did the recall repair become available?
The recall began September 10, 2020. Thomas Built Buses sent an interim owner notice on June 17, 2020, then began the free label remedy after that. If your bus is included and the label was not received, contact Thomas Built Buses customer service.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/20V252000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 20V252 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 20V252000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall 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 →