Recall 26V407 covers 117 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 and EFX2 school buses for door-switch failure. Free repair once available.
Thomas Built Buses is recalling 117 2026-2027 Saf-T-Liner HDX2 and Saf-T-Liner EFX2 school buses because the entrance door can fail to open or close when the switch is activated. A door that will not open or close increases injury risk for occupants in a crash, and the dealer repair will be free once Thomas Built Buses makes it available.
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What's wrong?
The entrance door system on 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 and Saf-T-Liner EFX2 school buses uses a door switch, a relay, and a battery-operated solenoid to move the door when the operator presses the control. The relay is the electrical middleman: it receives the switch signal and tells the door hardware when to open or close.
On the affected buses, the relay and switch do not match the way they send and receive that signal. The relay needs a brief input, but the door switch holds contact. Under certain operating sequences, that mismatch stops the door system from responding to the operator's input. The door then fails to open or fails to close when commanded.
There is no warning sign before failure. The first thing a driver notices is the entrance door not opening or not closing when the switch is used.
Who's affected?
Covers Saf-T-Liner HDX2 and Saf-T-Liner EFX2 buses from the 2026 and 2027 model years, with wiring and door-latch components tied to the same time-delay relay.
| 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 | wiring |
|---|---|
| 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 | Latch |
| 2026 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 | wiring |
| 2026 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 | Latch |
| 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX2 | wiring |
| 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX2 | Latch |
| 2026 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX2 | wiring |
| 2026 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX2 | Latch |
| Units affected | 117 |
| 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?
A door that fails to open or close increases injury risk for occupants in a crash. Check door operation before passenger use. If a door does not open or close as intended, contact the dealer before the bus returns to service. Repair will be free at any franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once available.
What should I do?
- Check your VIN to confirm your 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 or Saf-T-Liner EFX2 is included in this recall.
- Wait for Thomas Built Buses to mail the repair notice; the remedy is still under development.
- Inspect door operation before each route; remove the bus from service if the entrance door fails to open or close when the switch is activated.
- Contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer once the remedy opens to schedule the free entrance-door switch and latch repair.
- Call Thomas Built Buses customer service at 1-800-574-0712 with questions, and reference recall number 26V407.
What happens at the repair
The final repair is still under development, so the dealer procedure has not been released. Once Thomas Built Buses opens the remedy, a Thomas Built Buses technician will complete the recall repair for the entrance-door switch problem at no charge. Owner letters are expected to be mailed August 25, 2026. The manufacturer has a general reimbursement plan on file, so keep documentation for any related out-of-pocket door repair and ask customer service how to submit it.
| Reimbursement | Reimbursement available |
|---|
Timeline
| June 26, 2026 | NHTSA published the recall |
|---|---|
| July 16, 2026 | Dealer notification began |
| July 16, 2026 | Dealer notification ended |
Frequently asked questions
What is recall 26V407?
Recall 26V407 covers 117 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 and Saf-T-Liner EFX2 school buses with an entrance door that fails to open or close when the switch is activated. The remedy is still under development.
What should I do if my 2026-2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 or Saf-T-Liner EFX2 is on this recall?
Check your VIN to confirm your specific bus is included in recall 26V407. If it is, contact a franchised Thomas Built Buses dealer and ask how to handle the vehicle while the remedy is under development. Reference recall number 26V407 when you call.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Federal recall law requires the manufacturer to repair the defect at no cost. The remedy is still being developed, and the final dealer repair will be free once Thomas Built Buses makes it available.
What is the safety risk?
The safety risk is tied to the entrance door. If the door fails to open or close when the switch is activated, occupants face an increased risk of injury in a crash. Ask the dealer how your bus should be handled until the repair is ready.
When will owners be notified about recall 26V407?
Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed August 25, 2026. The recall remedy is still under development, so the letter should explain the next repair steps once Thomas Built Buses finalizes the fix.
More information
| NHTSA campaign page | nhtsa.gov/vehicle-recalls/26V407000 |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses customer service | 1-800-574-0712 |
| NHTSA recall # | 26V407 |
| NHTSA recall # (full) | 26V407000 |
Source documents
This article is generated from NHTSA's primary recall filings and reviewed against the source on July 13, 2026. RecallNotify does not paraphrase NHTSA's consequence language; that text is reproduced as written above. Editorial standards →