2011–2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX Recall: Affected vehicles have a transmission retarder that may increase coolant…
NHTSA campaign 16V325000 · Power Train · filed May 19, 2016 · verified Jul 30, 2026
The defect
Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses manufactured April 28, 2010, to April 15, 2016. The affected vehicles have a transmission retarder that may increase coolant system pressure high enough to cause hose fatigue and lead to premature failure of the hose, resulting in a coolant leak inside the bus body.
The risk
If the heater hose fails, hot coolant may leak inside the bus body increasing risk of injury to the passengers.
Check whether your specific vehicle is affected
Recall campaigns often cover only certain VIN ranges. Enter your VIN on the official NHTSA site to confirm whether your vehicle is included and whether the repair is still open.
Check VIN on NHTSA →The fix — what to do
DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the heater hose, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed on July 6, 2016. The recall began on September 20, 2016. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-709.
Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.
Affected vehicles
| Make | Model | Model years |
|---|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses | Saf-T-Liner HDX | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
Related recalls
More Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX recalls
- 2023–2026 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx and 1 other model — Heater hose clamps may not have been tightened properly…
- 2023–2025 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner Efx and 1 other model — Heater hose clamps may not have been tightened properly…
- 2025–2027 Thomas Built Buses Minotour DRW and 4 other models — Wheel chair restraint retractor may not lock, preventing…
- 2025–2026 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 and 4 other models — Tie rod castle nut and cotter pin may not be installed…
- 2019–2022 Thomas Built Buses Minotour DRW and 5 other models — Emergency Exit Label lettering is too small and may be…
Other campaigns involving Thomas Built Buses vehicles
- 2026–2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX2 and 1 other model — Entrance door may fail to open or close when the switch is…
- 2026–2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 — Entrance door may fail to open or close when the switch is…
- 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX2 — Front and mid-body interior joints may have been…
All Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX recalls → · All Thomas Built Buses recalls →
Source: NHTSA recall database, campaign 16V325000 (manufacturer number FL-709). Data last verified Jul 30, 2026.