Recall 26V388 covers 2 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 school buses for weak body joints. Free repair once Thomas Built Buses opens it.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 2 2027 Saf-T-Liner HDX2 school buses because front and mid-body interior joints were manufactured with insufficient strength. In a crash, those joints can reduce passenger protection and increase injury risk; the dealer repair will be free once Thomas Built Buses opens the final remedy.
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What's wrong?
The interior header connector is part of the 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 body structure. It joins interior body panels at the front and mid-body header areas so the school bus body holds together as designed. Those joints are required to carry load through the body when the structure is stressed.
On affected buses, some front or mid-body interior joints were built with incorrect material in the header. Joint strength testing found the sample material did not meet the tensile strength requirements under FMVSS 221. Tensile strength means how much pulling force the joint can take before it separates. If the joint is weaker than required, the bus body joint does not provide the strength the school bus standard requires.
There is no warning sign before failure. The issue is inside the bus body, so a driver or school staff member should not expect a dashboard light, noise, or handling change.
Who's affected?
| 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 | body structure |
|---|---|
| Units affected | 2 |
| 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?
Weak body joints can leave passengers with less crash protection and increase the risk of injury. There is no warning sign listed, so treat this as a service priority and keep trip planning conservative until the bus is fixed. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once Thomas Built Buses opens it.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 is included in this recall.
- Watch for the interim owner letter expected July 2, 2026, then the final remedy letter anticipated in August 2026.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer after the final remedy letter arrives to schedule the free fastener repair that secures the front and mid-body interior joints.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-574-0712 with questions and reference recall number 26V388 (Thomas Built Buses recall F1034).
- Ask whether the bus should stay out of service until the final repair is ready, since weak body joints reduce crash protection for passengers.
What happens at the repair
Thomas Built Buses has not opened the final dealer repair yet. Until it does, interim letters explain the safety risk. Once the final remedy is available, a Thomas Built Buses technician will add fasteners to secure the front and mid-body interior joints. Parts and labor are free under the recall. The manufacturer uses its standard reimbursement plan for owners who already paid for related repairs. Keep any invoices and ask the service desk or DTNA customer service how to submit documentation.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 12, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 2, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| July 2, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
| July 2, 2026 | Interim owner notification (planned) |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V388?
Recall 26V388 covers 2 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 school buses with front and mid-body interior joints that were manufactured incorrectly. The joints have insufficient strength and do not meet School Bus Body Joint Strength requirements. Dealers will add fasteners for free once the final remedy opens.
What should I do if my 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 26V388. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and reference recall F1034. The final repair is not open yet, but the dealer repair will be free once available.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost, and Thomas Built Buses dealers will add fasteners to secure the affected joints free of charge once the final remedy is available.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is reduced crash protection for passengers. If the affected interior body joints lack enough strength, the school bus will not protect passengers as designed in a crash, increasing the risk of injury. The repair path is to add fasteners to secure the joints.
When will owners be notified about recall 26V388?
Thomas Built Buses expects to mail interim owner letters on July 2, 2026. Those letters notify owners of the safety risk. Additional letters will be sent once the final remedy is available, with the final remedy anticipated in August 2026.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V388000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-574-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V388 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V388000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on June 19, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →