Recall 22V441 affects 3 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses lacking required emergency exits. Free repair at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 3 2023 Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses because they were built with too few emergency exits under federal bus safety rules. Fewer exits can delay passengers during an emergency and increase injury risk, and Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The emergency exit window on a 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is a push-out window meant to give students, the driver, and responders another way out if the main door is blocked. Federal school bus rules set exit requirements so a full bus has enough paths for evacuation.
On affected buses, the problem is the exit configuration, not a broken latch or cracked window. Certain buses built for 77 passengers plus the driver were assembled with too few emergency exits for that seating capacity. That means the bus does not meet the emergency exit and window retention standard that applies to this body configuration.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or school district would not feel this while driving, because the defect is in how the bus was built and equipped. The practical sign is an inspection or VIN confirmation showing the bus is included in recall 22V441.
Who's affected?
| 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 3 |
| 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?
Too few emergency exit windows can slow passenger evacuation during an emergency and increase injury risk. This is a vehicle configuration issue, so the repair adds the required exit windows rather than replacing a failed part. If your VIN is included, schedule the campaign work with the dealer. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is included in this recall.
- Contact your nearest franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to confirm the bus has the required emergency exit windows, or to schedule the free emergency-exit-window addition if it has not been completed.
- Bring the recall notice if Thomas Built Buses mailed one. If not, reference recall number 22V441 when you call.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions and reference Thomas Built Buses recall FL940.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician adds the emergency exit windows required for the Saf-T-Liner C2 school bus, as needed. The recall record says all vehicles have been remedied, but the dealer repair remains free for any included bus that still needs the work. If an owner already paid for this recall repair, the manufacturer's reimbursement plan offers a refund through authorized dealers. Bring the repair paperwork and payment documentation to the service desk.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 22, 2022 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 22, 2022 | Owner notification mailed |
| August 8, 2022 | Dealer notification began |
| August 8, 2022 | Dealer notification ended |
| August 8, 2022 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 22V441?
Recall 22V441 covers 3 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses that lacked enough emergency exits under the school-bus emergency-exit standard. Thomas Built Buses dealers add the needed emergency exit windows for free, and the filing says all affected buses have been remedied.
What should I do if my 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm the specific bus is included in recall 22V441. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and reference recall 22V441 or DTNA recall FL940. The dealer can confirm whether the emergency exit window work is already complete.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and the remedy for recall 22V441 is free. A franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer adds the emergency exit windows as needed, with parts and labor covered.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is slower passenger evacuation during an emergency. The recalled Saf-T-Liner C2 buses lacked enough emergency exits, which can delay passengers leaving the bus and increase injury risk. The remedy is to add the required emergency exit windows.
Who can I call about DTNA recall FL940?
Call DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 for questions about recall FL940. Have the VIN ready when you call, then confirm the repair status with a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer if the bus is included.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/22V441000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 22V441 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 22V441000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →