Heater Hose May Rupture and Leak

Affected vehicles (1)

Component / system

Defect

Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain Thomas Built Buses 2027 Saf-T-Liner C2 school buses. The heater hose may rupture, which can result in hot coolant leaking inside the passenger compartment.

Risk / consequence

Contact with hot coolant may burn occupants, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy

Dealers will inspect and replace the heater hose, as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 24, 2026. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is F1031.

Chronology of events

1. Dec 15, 2025

   On December 15, 2025, during routine testing of the heating system of a school bus at its High Point, NC manufacturing facility, DTNA observed presence of coolant inside the bus. The same day, DTNA notified the heater hose supplier about its observations and requested additional information from the supplier. Later that week, DTNA provided the supplier with a sample of failed heater hoses for analysis. Concurrently, DTNA began to investigate vehicles produced with heater hoses from the same supplier.

2. Jan 14, 2026

   On January 14, 2026, DTNA observed a failed heater hose with the presence of coolant in another school bus at its High Point, NC manufacturing facility. The heater hose in each incident had the same date code and DTNA notified the supplier. Out of an abundance of caution, in mid-January 2026 DTNA held all suspect buses (those buses where the heater hose may have had the same date code) at the manufacturing facility while the investigation proceeded. DTNA provided the supplier with additional heater hose samples in early February 2026 and DTNA in conjunction with the supplier began to discuss the potential effects of a failed heater hose.

Notification schedule

Dealer notification

Mar 16, 2026 - Mar 16, 2026 No Dealers

Owner notification

Apr 25, 2026 - Apr 25, 2026 Phased Recall