RECALLS — MAKE · MODEL · YEAR
2013 Thomas Built SAF-T-Liner EFX School BUS recalls
7 safety recall campaigns have been filed for the 2013 Thomas Built SAF-T-Liner EFX School BUS with Transport Canada and the U.S. NHTSA. Here is what both agencies say.
- Canadian recalls
- 07
- U.S. recalls
- 00
- Total campaigns
- 07
Transport Canada recalls
07- Seats And Restraints#2023301
14 units affected
Issue: On certain school bus seats, the plastic trim (bezel) where the shoulder seat belt comes out of the seatback may be too hard. Canadian regulations have requirements for anything that is installed in certain areas of the seatback. Note: This only affects school buses equipped with certain Syntec M2K and S3C passenger seats with lap/shoulder seat belts. Safety Risk: While this plastic trim is doesn't technically meet the requirements of Canadian regulations, it's unlikely to cause an injury. Corrective Actions: This is not a recall. The company made changes in 2017, and all new seats made after that time have a soft vinyl cover trim for the shoulder seat belt.
- Structure#2022577
284 units affected
Issue: Certain school buses may not meet Canadian regulations for roof panel joint strength. Safety Risk: A roof joint that is not strong enough could increase the risk of injury in a crash. Corrective Actions: Daimler Truck North America (DTNA) will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your bus to a DTNA authorized service facility to add additional fasteners to the roof lap joints.
- Accessories#2015395
173 units affected
On certain school buses equipped with a Ricon wheelchair lift, the lift platform sides may crack, which could cause the lift to lean against the vehicle door(s) and potentially fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, putting the lift operator at risk of injury. Correction: Ricon Corporation repair facilities will inspect lift platforms, link arms and bearings for cracks, damage or misalignment and if found to be damaged, link arms and/or platform will be replaced. Note: This recall supersedes recall 2014-330. Vehicles repaired under the previous recall will require re-inspection and potential repair.
- Structure#2015291
8,093 units affected
On certain school buses, the stem which joins the outside emergency door handle to the emergency door opening mechanism may potentially corrode. Excessive material loss of the stem due to corrosion could result in the outside handle separating from the door mechanism while trying to open the door from the exterior of the bus. In the event of an emergency, this could delay evacuation of the vehicle and increase the risk of injury to occupants. Correction: Dealers will inspect the stems and either replace or protect them against further corrosion.
- Accessories#2014330
173 units affected
On certain school buses equipped with a Ricon wheelchair lift, the lift platform sides may crack, which could cause the lift to lean against the vehicle door(s) and potentially fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, putting the lift operator at risk of injury. Correction: Ricon Corporation repair facilities will inspect lift platforms for cracks and repair as necessary, and install a repair kit.
- Fuel System#2013281
28 units affected
On certain school buses, an information label may detach from the auxiliary heater fuel pickup tube and block the engine fuel suction tube, which could restrict or stop the flow of fuel to the engine. Engine stalling would result in a loss of vehicle propulsion which, in conjunction with traffic and road condition and the driver’s reactions, could increase the risk of a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will inspect the fuel tank. If a label is found, it will be removed from the tank.
- Lights And Instruments#2013020
15 units affected
On certain school buses, the 20-amp headlamp circuit breaker may trip during continuous operation in the high beam mode, resulting in a temporary loss of power to the headlamps, marker lamps, tail lamps and dash lighting, until the circuit breaker cools and automatically resets. Loss of headlamp illumination, should it occur during a rainy/snowy day, or during hours of darkness, could compromise the driver’s ability to see the road and its users. Also, failure of the lighting system could render the vehicle less visible to other motorists. These issues could result in a crash causing property damage and/or personal injury. Correction: Dealers will replace the 20-amp circuit breaker with a 30-amp breaker.
Canadian data updated August 24, 2026
U.S. NHTSA recalls
00No recalls found for this make, model, and year.
Does this recall apply to my vehicle?
Matched by make, model, and model year. Many recalls affect only specific VIN ranges — confirm with your dealer using your full VIN.
What to do
Recall repairs are free at a franchised dealer in both countries. To confirm a recall applies to your specific vehicle, or to book the work, contact your manufacturer or dealer with your full VIN, or use the official channel:
- NHTSA recall lookup (search by VIN) — U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Defects and recalls database — Transport Canada
Check a 2013 Thomas Built SAF-T-Liner EFX School BUS VIN
A VIN decode confirms your vehicle's exact model year, trim and assembly plant, then runs this same recall check against it.