Recall 23V333 covers 23,590 2021-2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses with weak rear interior joints. Dealers add fasteners free.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 23,590 2021-2024 Saf-T-Liner C2 and Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley school buses because a rear interior body joint can have insufficient strength. In a crash, that joint strength problem can reduce passenger protection and increase the risk of injury; Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The interior side sheet joint on the 2021-2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 and Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley is part of the school bus body structure. It sits near the rear D-pillar, the vertical support at the back of the body, where the D-panel overlaps the side sheet at the last roof rafter. That joint helps the body panels stay tied together and meet FMVSS 221 School Bus Body Joint Strength requirements.
On affected buses, that rear interior joint was manufactured or installed incorrectly. The result is insufficient joint strength, so the panel connection does not meet the required tensile strength for a school bus body joint. Thomas Built Buses identified the issue at the lower D-pillar area and corrected the production installation process.
There is no warning sign before failure. Owners, fleet managers, and drivers should not expect a dash light, noise, or visible change that confirms whether this body joint was built correctly.
Who's affected?
Spans Saf-T-Liner C2 and Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley buses across the 2021-2024 model years, all tied to the same body structure concern.
| 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2022 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley | body structure |
| 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley | body structure |
| 2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| 2022 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| Units affected | 23,590 |
| 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?
Insufficient joint strength can reduce passenger protection in a crash and increase the risk of injury. If your VIN is included, schedule the repair soon and ask the dealer how the bus should be handled until fasteners are added. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2021-2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 or Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the free added-fastener repair that strengthens the rear interior body joint.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it. If not, reference recall number 23V333 when you call.
- Review route use with your fleet or safety manager until the repair is complete, since the defect affects crash protection for passengers.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-574-0712 with questions about scheduling or reimbursement.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician adds additional fasteners to secure the rear interior body joints. The recall repair is available now, and parts and labor are free. If you already paid for a repair covered by this recall before the date listed in the reimbursement plan, Daimler Truck North America offers a refund path through authorized dealers. Bring the repair invoice, proof of payment, and any related service paperwork to the service desk so the dealer can review the claim under the recall plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| May 9, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 11, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| December 11, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 11, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
| December 19, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V333?
Recall 23V333 covers 23,590 2021-2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 and Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley school buses with a rear interior body joint that has insufficient strength. In a crash, that joint defect can reduce passenger protection. Dealers will add fasteners for free.
What should I do if my 2021-2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 or Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm the specific bus is included in recall 23V333. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the joint-fastener repair. Reference recall 23V333 or DTNA recall FL973 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 23V333, Thomas Built Buses dealers will add additional fasteners to secure the affected rear interior body joints free of charge.
Is it safe to drive a 2021-2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 or Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley?
The recall does not tell owners to stop driving the bus, but it is a passenger-protection defect. The affected joint can fail to provide adequate protection in a crash. Confirm the VIN, then schedule the free dealer repair as soon as the bus can be serviced.
When were owners notified about recall 23V333?
Owner notification letters were mailed December 19, 2023. If the bus was bought used or transferred between operators, check the VIN instead of relying on mail history. A franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer can confirm the repair status and schedule the free fastener repair.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V333000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-574-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V333 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V333000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (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 →