Recall 23V209 covers 380 2021-2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses for switch failure. Free dealer repair once available.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 380 2021-2023 Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses because the automatic low voltage disconnect switch can fail. A failure can cut drive power, power steering, or vehicle lighting and increase crash risk, and the dealer repair will be free once Thomas Built Buses makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The automatic low voltage disconnect switch on 2021-2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley school buses is part of the electrical system. Its job is to manage low-voltage power so the bus keeps the right circuits supplied while the vehicle is operating.
On affected buses, that switch can fail instead of maintaining the intended electrical connection. When the switch fails, the bus can lose drive power, power steering, or vehicle lighting. That means a driver can suddenly have less steering assistance, less visibility, or no propulsion, depending on which function drops out.
There is no warning sign before failure. The driver is not expected to see a warning light, hear a sound, or feel a gradual change before the switch stops working, so the issue has to be handled through the recall repair rather than waiting for symptoms.
Who's affected?
Covers the 2021, 2022, and 2023 model years, all tied to the automatic low-voltage disconnect switch in the electrical system.
| 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | electrical system |
|---|---|
| 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | electrical system |
| 2022 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | electrical system |
| Units affected | 380 |
| 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?
Loss of drive power, power steering, or vehicle lighting raises crash risk because the bus can become harder to control or harder for others to see. There is no warning sign before failure, so schedule service promptly and limit use until it is fixed. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2021-2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is included in this recall.
- Use the Thomas Built Buses owner letter to follow the current repair instructions for this bus.
- Ask a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer whether the free automatic low voltage disconnect switch removal is open for your VIN; the switch failure can cause loss of drive power, power steering, or lighting.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions and reference recall number 23V209 (DTNA recall FL968).
- Stop operating the bus if it loses drive power, power steering, or lighting, and arrange service before carrying passengers.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician removes the automatic low voltage disconnect switch. Because this campaign is still listed as under development, treat that as the planned dealer repair, not a repair to assume is schedulable yet. Once the remedy opens, parts and labor are covered under the recall. If you already paid for a related switch repair, seek reimbursement through an authorized Thomas Built Buses dealer using the instructions from the owner notification letter.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 26, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
|---|---|
| May 26, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| May 26, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| September 13, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
| October 18, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V209?
Recall 23V209 covers 380 2021-2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with an automatic low voltage disconnect switch that can fail. The failure can cause loss of drive power, power steering, or vehicle lighting, increasing crash risk.
What should I do if my 2021-2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included in recall 23V209. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and ask about the automatic low voltage disconnect switch removal. Reference recall 23V209 or DTNA recall FL968 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to complete the recall repair at no cost, and DTNA's remedy says dealers will remove the automatic low voltage disconnect switch free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is loss of drive power, power steering, or vehicle lighting. On a school bus, that failure can make the bus harder to control or harder for other drivers to see, increasing crash risk.
When were owners notified about recall 23V209?
Owner notification letters were mailed on October 18, 2023. If you manage or own a 2021-2023 Saf-T-Liner C2 and never received a letter, check your VIN and contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer with recall 23V209 or FL968.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V209000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V209 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V209000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →