Vehicle recall 20V252000 · May 5, 2020
2010-2020 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX
The lettering on the instruction label for the rear emergency exit window may be too small.
Source: NHTSA data as of September 22, 2026. Last refreshed Sep 23, 2026, 2:43 AM UTC.
- Summary
- Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2010-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The lettering on the instruction label for the rear emergency exit window may be too small. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."
- Consequence
- Small lettering may be difficult for occupants to read, delaying the reaction time to open the exit, increasing the risk of injury.
- Remedy
- DTNA will notify owners and mail a new label to attach to the exit window by first class mail, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on June 17, 2020. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-849.
- Notes
- 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.
Recall details
- NHTSA campaign
- 20V252000
- Reported to NHTSA
- May 5, 2020
- Filed by
- Daimler Trucks North America LLC
- Manufacturer campaign
- FL-849
- Owner notification
- September 10, 2020
- Vehicles potentially affected
- 7,979
- Initiated by
- the manufacturer
- Components
- Structure › Emergency › Escape/egress/exit; Equipment › Other › Labels
Vehicles covered
As listed by NHTSA. A recall usually covers only some vehicles of each model and year, often a production date range.
Has your Thomas Built Buses been repaired?
Recalls here come from NHTSA’s records for the model and year. Not every vehicle of a model is included in every recall, and this site can’t see whether a repair has been done. Only a VIN lookup can tell you that.
NHTSA’s VIN search doesn’t show recalls that were already repaired, recalls more than 15 years old, or some small manufacturers’ recalls. A Thomas Built Buses dealer can also check your VIN. Recall repairs are free.