Recall 22V634 affects 7,561 2011-2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx school buses for insufficient front seat barriers. Repair will be free once available.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 7,561 2011-2021 Saf-T-Liner Hdx school buses because the forward seat barriers do not provide enough passenger protection. In a crash, occupants can hit those barriers with more force than intended, increasing injury risk; the dealer repair will be free once Thomas Built Buses makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The wall mounted barrier in a 2011-2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx is the padded panel mounted forward of a passenger seating position. Its job is to absorb crash energy and help protect passengers under the school bus seating and crash protection standard. On these buses, the affected barrier is mounted at the first rafter on the passenger side.
The problem is not a loose seat or a broken latch. Thomas Built Buses added 5/8 inch of styling foam to the high-back wall mounted barrier, and that foam changed how the barrier performed during the required energy absorption test. With that foam in place, the barrier did not meet the required barrier performance standard.
There is no warning sign before failure. The bus will not make a noise, show a warning light, or drive differently because the issue is the barrier's crash-test performance, not a part that wears out during normal driving.
Who's affected?
Spans the 2011-2021 model years, all tied to the same wall-mounted barrier seat assembly.
| 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
|---|---|
| 2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2013 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2016 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2014 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2011 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2012 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2018 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| 2019 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx | seat assembly |
| Units affected | 7,561 |
| 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?
Seat barrier spacing lets occupants hit the front seat barriers with more force than intended during a crash, increasing injury risk. Confirm the VIN and ask a Thomas Built Buses dealer when the recall repair is open. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2011-2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to ask when the free seat-barrier spacer installation is open for your bus.
- Reference recall number 22V634 and Thomas Built Buses recall FL843 when you call.
- Bring the owner letter mailed August 25, 2023, if you have it.
- Limit passenger use until the repair is complete, since the front seat barriers do not provide the required crash protection.
What happens at the repair
Thomas Built Buses is still developing the repair path, so do not treat the final dealer repair as ready to schedule yet. Once it opens, an authorized Thomas Built Buses service facility will install a spacer between the seat rail and the seat barrier. That spacer gives the seat barrier the added clearance needed for passenger protection. The final dealer repair will be free once available, with parts and labor covered under the recall.
Timeline
| August 19, 2022 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| October 4, 2022 | Dealer notification began |
| October 4, 2022 | Dealer notification ended |
| October 4, 2022 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| August 25, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 22V634?
Recall 22V634 covers 7,561 2011-2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx school buses with forward seat barriers that do not meet FMVSS 222 crash protection requirements. Thomas Built Buses dealers will install a spacer between the seat rail and seat barrier for free.
What should I do if my 2011-2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Hdx is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm the bus is included in recall 22V634. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and ask about the seat-barrier spacer repair. Reference recall number 22V634 and DTNA recall number FL843 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 22V634, dealers will install the seat-barrier spacer free of charge at a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What is the safety risk in recall 22V634?
The risk is passenger injury during a crash. The forward seat barriers do not provide the required level of protection, so occupants can hit the barriers with more force than intended. The repair adds a spacer between the seat rail and seat barrier.
When were owner letters mailed for recall 22V634?
Owner notification letters were mailed August 25, 2023. If you manage or own one of these school buses and never received a notice, check the VIN and call a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer with recall number 22V634.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/22V634000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 22V634 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 22V634000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (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 →