Recall 23V670 covers 173 2019-2024 Saf-T-Liner C2 buses for loose emergency-exit-door fasteners. Free repair at a Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 173 2019-2024 Saf-T-Liner C2 transit buses because fasteners for the emergency exit door can loosen and detach, which can allow the door to open unexpectedly. An emergency exit door that opens on its own can increase the risk of injury, and the dealer repair will be free once available.
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What's wrong?
The emergency exit door latch with vandal lock on affected 2019-2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 buses is the hardware that keeps the rear emergency door secured until it is intentionally released. The vandal lock is a security feature that must be manually disengaged before the bus can be driven, and the latch still has to let the door open during an emergency.
On affected buses, the latch uses a specific vandal lock variant whose fasteners can loosen and fully detach from the latch mechanism. If all three fasteners detach, the latch no longer holds the door with its normal resistance. When direct heavy pressure is applied to the door, the emergency exit door can open unexpectedly, which increases the risk of injury.
A driver has two practical chances to catch this before a failure. The bus cannot be driven until the vandal lock is manually disengaged, and the emergency exit door is opened and closed during the daily pre-trip inspection. Missing bolts or a door that opens with less force than normal are the warning signs to look for.
Who's affected?
Covers the Saf-T-Liner C2 bus line across the 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024 model years, all tied to the same emergency door latch with vandal lock.
| 2021 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body or structural component |
|---|---|
| 2022 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body or structural component |
| 2019 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body or structural component |
| 2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body or structural component |
| 2023 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body or structural component |
| 2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body or structural component |
| Units affected | 173 |
A matching year and model does not guarantee inclusion. Check your VIN to confirm whether your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
An emergency exit door that opens unexpectedly increases the risk of injury. Drivers should treat missing fasteners or a door that opens with less force during pre-trip checks as a reason to keep the bus out of service and call the dealer. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2019-2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is included in this recall.
- Wait for Thomas Built Buses repair instructions before scheduling if the remedy is not open for your VIN.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to ask about the free emergency-exit-door fastener inspection and tightening that keeps the door latched.
- Bring the owner letter if you have it. If not, reference recall number 23V670 when you call.
- Keep the bus in service only with extra attention to the emergency exit door until the dealer inspection is complete.
What happens at the repair
Once the repair is available, a Thomas Built Buses technician will inspect the emergency exit door fasteners and tighten them as needed so the door stays secured. Parts and labor will be free under the recall. If you already paid for an emergency exit door repair tied to this issue, use the reimbursement instructions in the owner letter and work through an authorized Thomas Built Buses dealer to submit the claim.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| October 3, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| December 1, 2023 | Owner notification mailed |
| December 2, 2023 | Dealer notification began |
| December 2, 2023 | Dealer notification ended |
| December 2, 2023 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V670?
Recall 23V670 covers 173 2019-2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 transit buses. The emergency exit door fasteners can loosen and detach, which can let the door open unexpectedly and increase injury risk. Dealers will inspect and tighten the fasteners as needed for free.
What should I do if my 2019-2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 23V670. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and ask for the emergency exit door fastener inspection. Reference recall number 23V670 or DTNA recall FL982 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 23V670, dealers will inspect the emergency exit door fasteners and tighten them as needed free of charge.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is an emergency exit door opening unexpectedly. If the fasteners loosen and detach, the door can open while the bus is in use, which increases the risk of injury. The repair path is a dealer inspection and fastener tightening at no cost.
When were owners notified about recall 23V670?
Owner notification letters were mailed on December 1, 2023. If you manage or own a 2019-2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 and did not receive a letter, check your VIN and call a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer with recall number 23V670.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V670000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V670 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V670000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (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 →