Vehicle Parts & Equipment/Suspension & Steering

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC: School Buses Recalled for Potential Sudden Loss of Steering Control

Agency Publication Date: April 7, 2023

Summary

Daimler Trucks North America is recalling 48 school buses, including 2023 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-LINER C2 Jouley, EFX, HDX, and Chassis models, as well as 2023-2024 School Bus Chassis. These vehicles may be missing a critical fastener in the tie rod assembly, which can cause the steering arm to detach while driving. Dealers will inspect the tie rod assembly and perform any necessary repairs or replacements at no cost to the owner.

Risk

If the steering arm detaches due to a missing fastener, the driver will experience a sudden and complete loss of steering control. This significantly increases the risk of a crash for the bus occupants and other road users.

What You Should Do

Identify if your vehicle is affected by checking for these models: 2023 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-LINER C2 Jouley, SAF-T-LINER EFX, SAF-T-LINER HDX, SAF-T-LINER Chassis, or 2023-2024 School Bus Chassis.
Contact Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) customer service at 1-800-547-0712 to verify if your specific vehicle is part of this recall using the manufacturer recall number FL970.
Schedule a free inspection and repair with an authorized DTNA dealer, who will ensure the tie rod fastener is present and correctly installed or replace the assembly if needed.
For additional information or questions regarding this safety recall, contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.nhtsa.gov.

Your Remedy Options

Free Repair

Inspection and repair or replacement of the tie rod assembly.

How to: Contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712 or an authorized dealer to have the tie rod assembly inspected and repaired free of charge.

Affected Products

Product: 2023 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-LINER SAF-T-LINER C2 Jouley

Product: 2023 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-LINER EFX

Product: 2023 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX

Product: 2023 Thomas Built Buses Chassis

Product: 2023-2024 School Bus Chassis

Additional Information

Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Recall ID: 23V259000

Status: Active

Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Sold By: Authorized DTNA dealers

Units Affected: 48 vehicles(1% estimated defective)

Park Vehicle: No

Park Outside: No

OTA Update: No

Product Type: Vehicle (V)

Recall Classification: Safety Defect

Owner Notification Date: August 11, 2023

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.nhtsa.gov.

Distributed To: Nationwide

Manufacturer Recall #: FL970

Agency Last Updated: August 15, 2023

Were You Affected by This Recall?

If you or a family member were harmed by this recalled product, you may have legal rights. Consider consulting a consumer protection attorney to understand your options for compensation.

Find an Attorney

This is general information, not legal advice. Go Backs is not a law firm and does not provide legal services.

AI-Enhanced Content: The summary, action steps, and risk assessment on this page were generated by AI from official government recall data to improve readability. This is not legal or medical advice. Always refer to the official agency sources below for authoritative information.

Sources: NHTSA Notice · Raw API Response

Summary

What You Should Do

Identify if your vehicle is affected by checking for these models: 2023 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-LINER C2 Jouley, SAF-T-LINER EFX, SAF-T-LINER HDX, SAF-T-LINER Chassis, or 2023-2024 School Bus Chassis.

Contact Daimler Trucks North America (DTNA) customer service at 1-800-547-0712 to verify if your specific vehicle is part of this recall using the manufacturer recall number FL970.

Schedule a free inspection and repair with an authorized DTNA dealer, who will ensure the tie rod fastener is present and correctly installed or replace the assembly if needed.

For additional information or questions regarding this safety recall, contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153) or visit www.nhtsa.gov.

Additional Information

Agency: National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)

Recall ID: 23V259000

Status: Active

Manufacturer: Daimler Trucks North America, LLC

Sold By: Authorized DTNA dealers

Units Affected: 48 vehicles(1% estimated defective)

Park Vehicle: No

Park Outside: No

OTA Update: No

Product Type: Vehicle (V)

Recall Classification: Safety Defect

Owner Notification Date: August 11, 2023

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.nhtsa.gov.

Distributed To: Nationwide

Manufacturer Recall #: FL970

Agency Last Updated: August 15, 2023