2023–2027 Thomas Built Buses (4 models) Structure Recall 26V702000 (Thomas Built Buses F1044)

NHTSA recall 26V702000 (Thomas Built Buses recall F1044) covers about 13,593 2023–2027 Thomas Built Buses (4 models) vehicles (structure), filed with NHTSA Oct 22, 2026. There is no do-not-drive or park-outside advisory.

Source: NHTSA campaign 26V702000 · Data as of Nov 6, 2026 · By CarWhere Research

13,593
vehicles affected (potential)
2023–2027
model years
Oct 22, 2026
filed with NHTSA
None
NHTSA advisory

What's recalled

Component: Structure (body)

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2023-2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2 Jouley, 2025-2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2, 2026-2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER HDX2, and Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER EFX2 school buses. The wheelhouse body interior joints may have been manufactured incorrectly, resulting in insufficient joint strength. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 221, "School Bus Body Joint Strength."

The risk

A school bus with insufficient joint strength may not adequately protect passengers in a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

The remedy and its status

Dealers will add fasteners to secure the joints, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed December 21, 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-574-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1044.

Status: NHTSA’s record does not list an owner-notification date yet.

Thomas Built Buses recall number F1044

NHTSA lists the manufacturer's own recall number for 26V702000 as F1044. Owner letters and dealer service departments often use this code, so a search for "F1044 recall" refers to the same campaign.

Affected models and years

Models and model years NHTSA lists for this campaign. Not every vehicle of a listed model and year is included; check by VIN.

VehicleModel yearsMore
Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C22025–2027—
Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner C2 Jouley2023–2027—
Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner EFX22026–2027—
Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX22026–2027—

Key dates

Report filed with NHTSA
Oct 22, 2026
Owner notification
Not listed yet
Build dates covered
Nov 18, 2024 to Sep 2, 2026
Recall initiated by
the manufacturer
Filed by
Daimler Trucks North America, LLC
Safety standard (FMVSS)
221

Check your VIN for 26V702000

  1. Find the 17-character VIN on the driver-side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the door-jamb sticker, or your registration.
  2. Enter it in NHTSA's free VIN recall lookup. It shows every open recall on that exact vehicle, including this one if it applies and hasn't been repaired.
  3. If 26V702000 is open, call any Thomas Built Buses dealer's service department and give them the recall number (26V702000 or F1044). The repair is free.

Not sure of the exact model or year? Decode it first with the free VIN decoder.

Frequently asked questions

What is recall 26V702000?

NHTSA recall 26V702000 (Thomas Built Buses recall F1044) covers about 13,593 2023–2027 Thomas Built Buses (4 models) vehicles (structure), filed with NHTSA Oct 22, 2026. There is no do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. It covers certain 2023-2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2 Jouley, 2025-2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER C2, 2026-2027 Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER HDX2, and Thomas Built SAF-T-LINER EFX2 school buses.

Is it safe to drive a vehicle with recall 26V702000?

NHTSA's record for 26V702000 carries no do-not-drive or park-outside advisory. The risk NHTSA lists is: "A school bus with insufficient joint strength may not adequately protect passengers in a crash, increasing the risk of injury." Get the free repair as soon as it is available for your vehicle.

How do I know if my vehicle is affected by 26V702000?

Only a VIN lookup can tell you. Not every vehicle of the listed models and years is included, and repaired vehicles drop off. Enter your 17-character VIN in NHTSA's free recall lookup at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or ask any Thomas Built Buses dealer to check it.

What is the fix for recall 26V702000, and is it free?

NHTSA's record says: "Dealers will add fasteners to secure the joints, free of charge." NHTSA’s record does not list an owner-notification date yet. Safety-recall repairs are done free of charge at authorized dealers.

What is the Thomas Built Buses recall number for 26V702000?

NHTSA lists the manufacturer's own recall number as F1044. Dealers and owner letters often use that code (F1044) instead of the NHTSA campaign number 26V702000.

Sources and method

  • NHTSA recall record for 26V702000, from NHTSA's public recall campaign database. Problem, risk and remedy text is NHTSA's own wording.
  • "Vehicles affected" is NHTSA's potential-units-affected count for the whole campaign.
  • Data as of Nov 6, 2026. NHTSA updates campaigns as manufacturers file amendments, so check the official record for the latest.

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