The defect
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain Thomas Built Buses 2025-2026 Saf-T-Liner HDX, Saf-T-Liner C2, 2026 Saf-T-Liner EFX, and Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley school buses. The tie rod castle nut and cotter pin may not be installed properly, which can result in a loss of vehicle steering control.
The risk
A loss of vehicle steering control increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Dealers will inspect and replace the tie rod assembly, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 10, 2025. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is D25R2.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2 | 2025, 2026 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2 Jouley | 2026 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX | 2026 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX | 2025 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX2 | 2026 |
Components: STEERING:CRITICAL FASTENERS | STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
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 Buses SAF-T-Liner C2 | 2025 | 0 | 13 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2 | 2026 | 0 | 7 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner C2 Jouley | 2026 | 0 | 4 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner EFX | 2026 | 0 | 2 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX | 2025 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX2 | 2026 | 0 | 6 |
Other steering recalls in 2025
29 of the 891 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2025 concerned the steering; Daimler Trucks North America, LLC filed 166 campaigns in all.
| 25V901000 19 Dec 2025 | Corp. Micro Bird, Inc. |
| 25V902000 19 Dec 2025 | Corp. Micro Bird, Inc. |
| 25V857000 11 Dec 2025 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 25V765000 6 Nov 2025 | Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) |
| 25V679000 9 Oct 2025 | Autocar, LLC |
| 25V660000 2 Oct 2025 | Autocar, LLC |
| 25V626000 19 Sept 2025 | Ford Motor Company |
| 25V623000 18 Sept 2025 | Ford Motor Company |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2025