Recall 22V876 covers 151 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses for battery-pack connection defects. Free repair at a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 151 2023 Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses because an insufficient battery-pack connection can make the battery management system shut down unexpectedly. A shutdown can cause sudden loss of drive power and raise crash risk, and Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The high-voltage battery pack on a 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 JOULEY stores the electric power that moves the bus. It works with the battery management system, a control unit that monitors battery communication and manages how power is delivered to the propulsion system.
The defect is in a foil harness inside the battery pack. A weak joint in that harness interrupts communication between the battery and the battery management system. When the battery management system loses that communication, it shuts down part of the power flow instead of allowing normal propulsion output. In the JOULEY battery configuration, that means reduced vehicle power, not a complete loss of power.
There is no warning sign before failure. The first thing a driver notices is the decrease in power after the communication fault has already happened.
Who's affected?
| 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | high-voltage traction battery |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 151 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 bus is on the list. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
An unexpected shutdown can cause a sudden loss of drive power and increase the risk of a crash. There is no known warning before power drops on the Jouley configuration, so schedule the inspection soon and avoid delaying the battery pack check. 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 a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free battery-pack inspection and needed replacement that addresses the unexpected drive-power shutdown.
- Bring the recall notice if Thomas Built Buses mailed one. If not, reference recall number 22V876 when you call.
- Drive cautiously until the repair is complete, and report any unexpected loss of drive power to the dealer before using the bus again.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with recall questions.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician inspects the battery pack and replaces it as needed. The recall repair is free, with parts and labor covered. If you already paid for a repair covered by this recall before the reimbursement plan date tied to the owner letter, DTNA offers a refund. Take the paperwork for that owner-paid repair to an authorized Thomas Built Buses dealer and ask the service desk to process the claim through DTNA's recall reimbursement plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| November 23, 2022 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 10, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| July 10, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 10, 2023 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| July 10, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| July 14, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 22V876?
Recall 22V876 covers 151 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with a battery-pack connection issue. An insufficient connection can cause the battery management system to shut down unexpectedly, causing sudden loss of drive power and increasing crash risk.
What should I do if my 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm the bus is included in recall 22V876. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the battery-pack inspection. Dealers will replace the battery pack as needed. Reference DTNA recall FL-960 when you call.
Does the recall repair cost anything?
No. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. Thomas Built Buses dealers will inspect the battery pack and replace it as needed, free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is sudden loss of drive power. If the battery management system shuts down unexpectedly, the school bus can lose propulsion while in use, increasing crash risk. Keep the dealer repair path clear: inspection first, battery-pack replacement if needed.
When were owners notified about recall 22V876?
Owner notification letters were mailed July 14, 2023. The recall repair is available now, so included owners or fleet operators can contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and reference DTNA recall FL-960.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/22V876000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 22V876 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 22V876000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Recall Document (PDF) (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 →