Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-LINER C2 problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
22 owner complaints analyzed
134 distinct recall campaigns
55,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1995 to 2027 model years. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Unknown Or Other is the most frequently named component, appearing in 5 of 22 complaints (22.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 4 | 18.2% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 2 | 9.1% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Unknown Or Other | 5 |
| Structure:Body | 4 |
| Parking Brake | 2 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine | 1 |
| Fuel System, Gasoline | 1 |
| Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection | 1 |
Unknown Or Other: 5; Structure:Body: 4; Parking Brake: 2; Seats: 2; Electrical System: 1; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine: 1; Fuel System, Gasoline: 1; Lane Departure: Blind Spot Detection: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 4 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 3 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 4; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 3
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (4). 5 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2007 | 1 |
| 2008 | 2 |
| 2009 | 1 |
| 2011 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2018 | 3 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2021 | 1 |
| 2022 | 2 |
2007: 1; 2008: 2; 2009: 1; 2011: 4; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2016: 1; 2018: 3; 2019: 4; 2021: 1; 2022: 2
Pattern summary
Unknown Or Other leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 4 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10189089 · 2007-04-27 (April 27, 2007)
AIR BRAKES WOULD NOT RELEASE. REPLACED CMU PART NUMBER 06-34530-006, PART HAD WATER INSIDE UNIT. THIS IS THE SECOND REPLACEMENT FOR THIS SCHOOL BUS. THE BUS IS A 2006 THOMAS SAF-T-LINER 72 PASSENGER. THE CMU IS LOCATED BEHIND THE BATTERY BOX ON THE DRIVER SIDE. THIS SECOND UNIT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE AN UPDATED VERSION THAT PREVENTED MOISTURE FROM ENTERING THE CMU THE VEHICLE. *JB
Owner-reported narrative. 11,723 miles reported. Look up ODI 10189089 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10228774 · 2008-05-23 (May 23, 2008)
BUS BRAKE INTERLOCK WILL NOT RELEASE, MUST BYPASS BRAKE SWITCH TO MOVE BUS FROM ROADWAY AFTER STUDENT PICKUP. HAPPENS INTERMITTENTLY ,WITHOUT WARNING. HAVE TO REPLACE AMU BRAKE SWITCH BLOCK, PART #A12-19776-010-01. TO CORRECT. BUS ONLY HAS 21,485 MILES .HAVE 6 BUSES WITH SIMILAR MILEAGE, HAVE REPLACED 3 TO DATE. HAVE REPLACED WITH IDENTICAL PART AS ORIGINAL, FEEL PROBLEM WILL REOCCUR. HAVE TALKED TO OTHER SCHOOL DISTRICTS WITH MULTIPLE PROBLEMS. IS VERY DANGEROUS DO TO LOCATION THAT PROBLEM COULD OCCUR SUCH AS BUSY TWO LANE HIGHWAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 21,485 miles reported. Look up ODI 10228774 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10395455 · 2011-04-11 (April 11, 2011)
2006 THOMAS/FREIGHTLINER SCHOOL BUS CAUGHT FIRE AND BURNT WHILE PARKED. INVESTIGATION FOUND FIRE ORIGIN FROM FLOOR MOUNTED BATTERY CABLES TO THE LEFT OF DRIVER'S SEAT. FURTHER INVESTIGATION INTO NINE SIMILAR BUSES IN THE FLEET FOUND HEAVY CORROSION AT THE BATTERY CABLE ISOLATORS IS OCCURRING WHICH CAN RESULT IN SHORTING AND FIRE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 71,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10395455 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 16 |
| 2013 | 18 |
| 2014 | 18 |
| 2015 | 20 |
| 2016 | 25 |
| 2017 | 28 |
| 2018 | 22 |
| 2019 | 24 |
| 2020 | 16 |
| 2021 | 15 |
| 2022 | 12 |
| 2023 | 12 |
| 2024 | 14 |
| 2025 | 13 |
| 2026 | 7 |
| 2027 | 6 |
2011: 22; 2012: 16; 2013: 18; 2014: 18; 2015: 20; 2016: 25; 2017: 28; 2018: 22; 2019: 24; 2020: 16; 2021: 15; 2022: 12; 2023: 12; 2024: 14; 2025: 13; 2026: 7; 2027: 6
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1996 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1997 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1998 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1999 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2000 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2001 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2002 | 1 | 2 | +1 |
| 2003 | 1 | 4 | +2 |
| 2004 | 0 | 5 | +1 |
| 2005 | 0 | 16 | +11 |
| 2006 | 2 | 21 | +5 |
| 2007 | 1 | 25 | +4 |
| 2008 | 5 | 27 | +2 |
| 2009 | 2 | 21 | -6 |
| 2010 | 1 | 22 | +1 |
| 2011 | 0 | 22 | 0 |
| 2012 | 3 | 16 | -6 |
| 2013 | 1 | 18 | +2 |
| 2014 | 0 | 18 | 0 |
| 2015 | 2 | 20 | +2 |
| 2016 | 0 | 25 | +5 |
| 2017 | 0 | 28 | +3 |
| 2018 | 1 | 22 | -6 |
| 2019 | 0 | 24 | +2 |
| 2020 | 1 | 16 | -8 |
| 2021 | 0 | 15 | -1 |
| 2022 | 1 | 12 | -3 |
| 2023 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| 2024 | 0 | 14 | +2 |
| 2025 | 0 | 13 | -1 |
| 2026 | 0 | 7 | -6 |
| 2027 | 0 | 6 | -1 |