Recall 26V250 covers 71 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 school buses for inadequate driver seat belt anchor hardware. Repair will be free once available.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 71 2026-2027 Saf-T-Liner HDX2 school buses because the driver seat belt anchor was installed with inadequate hardware. If that anchor fails in a crash, the driver is not properly restrained, increasing the risk of injury; Thomas Built Buses dealers will complete the free repair.
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What's wrong?
The driver seat belt anchor in 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 school buses is the floor-mounted hardware that holds the driver's belt system in place. Its job is simple: keep the belt attachment secured to the bus structure so the restraint can hold the driver in position during a crash or hard stop.
In NHTSA campaign 26V250, the driver seat tether belt hardware was installed with wrong or inadequate parts. The filing identifies anchor hardware such as a finished hex bolt and flat washer, and Thomas Built Buses traced the issue to a manufacturing deviation. If that hardware does not clamp the anchor as intended, the belt anchorage does not meet Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard 210 for seat belt assembly anchorages.
There is no warning sign before failure. The problem is in the hardware installation at the anchor point, so an owner or driver should not expect a noise, light, or seat belt change before the defect is found.
Who's affected?
Covers 2 model years, with the seat belt anchorage component listed for both.
| 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 | seat belt |
|---|---|
| 2026 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 | seat belt |
| Units affected | 71 |
| 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 your specific bus is included.
What's the safety risk?
An improperly installed seat belt anchor can fail to hold the driver correctly in a crash. That means the seat belt does not provide the restraint it is designed to provide, increasing injury risk. Schedule the recall service soon. Repair is free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 is included in this recall.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer to ask when the free driver-seat-belt-anchor repair is ready for your bus.
- Reference recall number 26V250 when you call, and ask the dealer to inspect the driver seat belt anchor hardware.
- Keep the bus in service only under your fleet's safety policy until the repair is complete; the defect involves driver restraint in a crash.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-574-0712 with questions about owner letters expected June 19, 2026.
What happens at the repair
DTNA says the remedy is still under development. Once the repair opens, a Thomas Built Buses technician will correct the driver seat belt anchor hardware on affected Saf-T-Liner HDX2 buses. Parts and labor are covered under the recall. Owner letters are expected to be mailed June 19, 2026. DTNA uses its general reimbursement plan on file, so owners who already paid for a related seat belt anchor repair should gather repair documentation and contact DTNA customer service to ask about reimbursement under that plan.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| April 20, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| May 10, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| May 10, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V250?
Recall 26V250 covers 71 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 school buses with driver seat belt anchor hardware that was installed inadequately. The anchor can fail to restrain the driver in a crash, increasing injury risk.
What should I do if my 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific school bus is included in recall 26V250. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer or DTNA customer service at 1-800-574-0712. Reference DTNA recall F1033 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires manufacturers to repair safety defects at no cost. DTNA says the remedy is under development, so ask the dealer when the seat belt anchor repair opens and confirm that parts and labor are covered.
What is the safety risk?
The risk is driver injury in a crash. The driver seat belt anchor was installed with inadequate hardware, so the belt anchor can fail to properly restrain the driver during a crash. Use the VIN result and dealer guidance to decide whether the bus stays in service before repair.
When will owners be notified?
DTNA expects to mail owner notification letters on June 19, 2026. The letter should explain the recall, the repair path, and how to work with a dealer. You can contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-574-0712 before the letter arrives.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V250000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-574-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V250 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V250000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on May 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →