The defect
Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2, Saf-T-Liner HDX, and Minotour school buses manufactured August 5, 2013, through November 15, 2013 and equipped with IMMI-brand L9 seat belt buckles. When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle, making the seat belt difficult to unlatch. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
The risk
If the latch plate remains partially engaged after the button is pressed, egress from the vehicle could be hindered which would increase the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.
The remedy
DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the seat belt buckles, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to by January 26, 2014. Owners may contact DTNA at 1-800-385-4357. DTNA's number for this campaign is FL-654.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Minotour | 2013, 2014, 2015 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2 | 2013, 2014, 2015 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX | 2013, 2014, 2015 |
Components: SEAT BELTS
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thomas Built Minotour | 2013 | 0 | 5 |
| Thomas Built Minotour | 2014 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Minotour | 2015 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2 | 2013 | 1 | 18 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2 | 2014 | 0 | 18 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2 | 2015 | 2 | 20 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX | 2013 | 0 | 23 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX | 2014 | 0 | 30 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX | 2015 | 0 | 31 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2013
22 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the seat belts; Daimler Trucks North America filed 32 campaigns in all.
| 13V631000 19 Dec 2013 | Navistar, Inc. |
| 13V630000 19 Dec 2013 | Navistar, Inc. |
| 13V613000 6 Dec 2013 | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 13V619000 29 Nov 2013 | Mack Trucks, Inc. |
| 13V618000 29 Nov 2013 | Volvo Trucks North America |
| 13V601000 29 Nov 2013 | E-One Incorporated |
| 13V604000 29 Nov 2013 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 13V620000 29 Nov 2013 | Prevost Cars, Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013