Recall 23V843 covers 321 2024-2025 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 and C2 Jouley buses for weak body joints. Repair is free at any franchised dealer.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 321 2024-2025 Saf-T-Liner C2 and Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley school buses because a rear interior body joint was built with insufficient strength. In a crash, that joint can reduce passenger protection and increase injury risk; Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the repair free of charge.
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What's wrong?
The rear interior bulkhead and rear interior window panel form part of the body structure on 2024-2025 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 and Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley school buses. That joint helps tie the rear interior bulkhead to the window panel so the bus body stays together as designed, including under the school bus body joint strength standard referenced in NHTSA campaign 23V843.
On included buses, that rear interior joint was installed incorrectly during a specific Thomas Built Buses production shift. The problem is not the panel material itself, but the way the bulkhead and window panel were joined. Without enough joint strength, the body joint does not meet the required strength standard. The remedy adds mechanical fasteners to strengthen that interior bulkhead joint.
There is no warning sign before failure. An owner or fleet operator will not get a dashboard light, noise, or drivability symptom that identifies this joint-strength problem before inspection or repair.
Who's affected?
Covers Saf-T-Liner C2 and Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley buses across the 2024-2025 model years, all involving the body structure.
| 2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
|---|---|
| 2024 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley | body structure |
| 2025 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 | body structure |
| Units affected | 321 |
| 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 crash protection for passengers and increase the risk of injury in a crash. If the VIN is included, schedule the repair soon and ask the dealer how to handle the bus until the fasteners are added. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2024-2025 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 rear interior joint fastener repair that restores bulkhead and window panel joint strength.
- Bring the recall notice if you have it, and reference recall number 23V843 when you call.
- Limit passenger service until the repair is complete because insufficient school bus body joint strength reduces crash protection.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-547-0712 with questions about recall number 23V843.
What happens at the repair
At the dealer, a Thomas Built Buses technician adds additional mechanical fasteners to secure the rear interior joints between the bulkhead and window panel. The recall repair is free, and parts and labor are covered. If you paid out of pocket for a related joint or body panel repair before the recall notice, bring any repair paperwork and the owner letter to an authorized dealer to process the reimbursement request.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| December 13, 2023 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| January 26, 2024 | Owner notification mailed |
| February 4, 2024 | Dealer notification began |
| February 4, 2024 | Dealer notification ended |
| February 4, 2024 | VIN-searchable in NHTSA's database — Check your VIN to see whether this recall applies to your specific vehicle. |
| February 4, 2024 | Interim owner notification (was planned for this date) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 23V843?
Recall 23V843 covers 321 2024-2025 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 and 2024 Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley school buses with rear interior body joints that were built with insufficient strength. Dealers will add mechanical fasteners to secure the joints for free.
What should I do if my 2024-2025 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 or Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 23V843. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to schedule the body-joint repair. Reference recall number 23V843 or DTNA recall FL986 when you call. The repair is free.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. For recall 23V843, Thomas Built Buses dealers will add mechanical fasteners to secure the rear interior joints free of charge.
What is the safety risk in recall 23V843?
The safety risk is reduced passenger protection in a crash. NHTSA campaign 23V843 says insufficient joint strength in the school bus body can increase the risk of injury. The dealer repair adds fasteners to secure the affected joints.
When were owners notified about recall 23V843?
Owner notification letters were mailed January 26, 2024. If you manage or own one of these school buses and never received a letter, check your VIN and call a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer with recall number 23V843 or DTNA recall FL986.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/23V843000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-547-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 23V843 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 23V843000 |
Source documents
-
Download Quarterly Report (PDF) - Download Owner Notice (PDF)
- Download Owner Notification Letter (PDF)
- Download Recall Acknowledgement (PDF)
- Download Recall Report (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 →