Recall 23V330 covers 146 2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 buses for weak rear body joints. Free repair at franchised Thomas Built Buses dealers.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 146 2024 Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses under recall 23V330 because a rear exterior body joint was manufactured incorrectly, leaving insufficient joint strength. In a crash, the bus can provide less passenger protection and raise injury risk; Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the recall repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The side sheet joint on the 2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is an exterior body panel joint near the rear D-pillar, where the side body panel ties into the bus structure. That joint helps the school bus body hold together as one shell, which is why Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 221 sets a strength requirement for school bus body joints.
On affected buses, the rear exterior joint at the last rafter was installed or manufactured incorrectly during a production shift. The result is insufficient joint strength at that location, so the joint does not meet the tensile strength requirement in FMVSS 221. This is a body-structure issue, not a braking, steering, or engine problem.
There is no warning sign before failure. A driver or school staff member is not expected to see a dashboard alert, hear a noise, or feel a change in normal driving from this joint-strength problem.
Who's affected?
| 2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 146 |
| Field incidents | NHTSA has logged no field incidents to date. |
Not every 2024 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?
A bus with insufficient joint strength can leave passengers less protected in a crash and increases injury risk. Because the issue involves crash protection, schedule the repair soon for any included Saf-T-Liner C2 and keep service records with the bus. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free additional-fastener repair that secures the rear exterior body joints.
- Bring the owner letter if you have it, and reference recall number 23V330 and DTNA recall FL972 when you call.
- Limit bus use until the dealer completes the joint-strength repair.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician adds additional fasteners to secure the rear exterior body joints covered by recall 23V330. The repair is free, and parts and labor are covered under the recall. If you already paid for a covered repair before the reimbursement plan date, Thomas Built Buses offers a refund path through authorized dealers. Bring the repair paperwork to the dealer and ask the service desk to process the reimbursement request.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 8, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| June 29, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
| July 7, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| July 7, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 7, 2023 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| July 7, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V330?
Recall 23V330 covers 146 2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with a rear exterior body joint that does not meet the school bus body joint strength standard. Thomas Built Buses dealers will add fasteners to secure the joints for free.
What should I do if my 2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 23V330. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the joint-fastener repair. Reference recall number 23V330 when you call. The dealer repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects and compliance defects at no cost to the owner. Thomas Built Buses dealers will add the needed fasteners to secure the rear exterior joints free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced passenger protection in a crash. If the rear exterior joint lacks enough strength, the school bus body does not meet the required joint-strength standard, increasing the risk of injury to passengers. The repair adds fasteners to secure the joints.
When were owners notified about recall 23V330?
Thomas Built Buses mailed owner notification letters on June 29, 2023. If you manage, own, or recently bought a 2024 Saf-T-Liner C2, check your VIN because ownership records and school bus transfers do not always match the current operator.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V330000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-574-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V330 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V330000 |
Source documents
-
Download Recall Document (PDF) (PDF) - Download Quarterly Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Misc. Document (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 20, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →