Thomas Built Buses recall FL-849

Q: Is FL-849 the same recall as 20V252000?

Yes. FL-849 is Thomas Built Buses’s own number for it; 20V252000 is NHTSA’s. One recall, two references.

Thomas Built Buses calls it FL-849. NHTSA filed it as campaign 20V252000 on May 5, 2020: structure on the 2010–2020 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX, 7,979 vehicles potentially affected. One recall, two numbers — the dealer quotes the manufacturer’s, the federal record carries NHTSA’s.

The full filing, 20V252000 →Check a VIN at NHTSA

What NHTSA has under this number

Source: 49 CFR Part 573 filings

NHTSA campaign	Vehicles	Component	Filed	Affected	Severity
20V252000	2010–2020 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX	Structure	May 5, 2020	7,979	high

Problem Daimler Trucks North America, LLC (DTNA) is recalling certain 2010-2020 Thomas Built Buses Saf-T-Liner HDX school buses. The lettering on the instruction label for the rear emergency exit window may be too small. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release." Risk Small lettering may be difficult for occupants to read, delaying the reaction time to open the exit, increasing the risk of injury. Fix DTNA will notify owners and mail a new label to attach to the exit window by first class mail, free of charge. DTNA issued owners an interim notification on June 17, 2020. The recall began September 10, 2020. Owners may contact DTNA customer service at 1-800-547-0712. DTNA's number for this recall is FL-849.

The manufacturer’s own words as filed for 20V252000. Every model year it covers, the build window and the filed PDFs →

Two numbers, one recall

Every safety recall carries two identifiers. FL-849 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. 20V252000 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-849 the same recall as 20V252000?

Yes. FL-849 is Thomas Built Buses’s own number for it; 20V252000 is NHTSA’s. One recall, two references.

Which vehicles does FL-849 cover?

2010–2020 Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-Liner HDX, 7,979 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-849 repair cost anything?

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