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 Sep 13, 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
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Other campaigns involving Thomas Built Buses vehicles
- 2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX2 and 1 other model — Connector plates for the driver's seat belt anchor and an…
- 2024–2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 — Fuel tank cage material and fuel system mounting may be…
- 2024–2027 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 — Fuel tank cage material and fuel system mounting may be…
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 Sep 13, 2026.