Thomas Built Buses recall FL-708

Q: Is FL-708 the same recall as 16V324000?

Yes. FL-708 is Thomas Built Buses’s own number for it; 16V324000 is NHTSA’s. The manufacturer used the same number on 2 NHTSA filings, all listed above.

Thomas Built Buses calls it FL-708. NHTSA filed it as campaign 16V324000 and 1 other on May 19, 2016: engine and engine cooling on the 2014–2017 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX, 2,163 vehicles potentially affected. One recall, two numbers — the dealer quotes the manufacturer’s, the federal record carries NHTSA’s.

The full filing, 16V324000 →Check a VIN at NHTSA

What NHTSA has under this number

Source: 49 CFR Part 573 filings

NHTSA campaign	Vehicles	Component	Filed	Affected	Severity
16V324000	2014–2017 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX	Engine And Engine Cooling	May 19, 2016	131	moderate
16V323000	2014–2017 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX	Engine And Engine Cooling	May 19, 2016	2,032	moderate

Problem Daimler Trucks North America LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain model year 2014-2017 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX buses manufactured November 29, 2012, to February 4, 2016. These vehicles use a rubber elbow to connect a coolant line to a heater inside the bus. This elbow may restrict coolant flow and possibly fail as a result of the increased stress on the elbow. Risk If the rubber elbow fails, hot coolant may leak inside the bus body increasing risk of injury to the passengers. Fix DTNA will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rubber elbow with a nylon fitting, free of charge. An interim notice was mailed on July 6, 2016. The recall began on September 20, 2016. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-708.

The manufacturer’s own words as filed for 16V324000. Every model year it covers, the build window and the filed PDFs →

Two numbers, one recall

Every safety recall carries two identifiers. FL-708 is the number Thomas Built Buses assigned in its own system: it is what appears on the owner letter, on the dealer’s service screen and on the repair order. 16V324000 is the number NHTSA filed the same recall under when the manufacturer reported it, and it is the one every federal record, this site included, is keyed on.

The repair is free by federal law for vehicles up to fifteen years old. Whether one particular vehicle is included is settled by its VIN against the manufacturer’s build list, not by its model year.

Check one specific vehicle

Both lookups check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list and say whether the repair is still outstanding on that vehicle.

NHTSA VIN recall lookup →

Common questions

Source: NHTSA, 49 CFR Part 573

Is FL-708 the same recall as 16V324000?

Yes. FL-708 is Thomas Built Buses’s own number for it; 16V324000 is NHTSA’s. The manufacturer used the same number on 2 NHTSA filings, all listed above.

Which vehicles does FL-708 cover?

2014–2017 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX, 2,163 vehicles by the manufacturer’s count. A recall covers a build range, so the VIN decides whether one particular vehicle is in it.

Does the FL-708 repair cost anything?

No. The manufacturer must remedy a safety defect at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from first sale.