U.S. public vehicle records

Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-LINER HDX problems and owner complaints

Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.

Key facts

5 owner complaints analyzed

81 distinct recall campaigns

26,635 mi median reported failure mileage

Scope: 2002 to 2026 model years. Data updated: 2026-10-01 (October 1, 2026). 1 complaints include usable failure mileage. View data status.

This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.

Owner-reported patterns

Most common problems

Service Brakes, Air is the most frequently named component, appearing in 3 of 5 complaints (60.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.

Recurring terms in complaint narratives
Topic	Matching reports	Share of complaints
Braking behavior	3	60.0%
Transmission and shifting	1	20.0%
Electrical and battery issues	1	20.0%
Steering behavior	1	20.0%

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.

Service Brakes, Air

Wheels

Electrical System

Power Train

Steering

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump

Service Brakes, Air: 3; Wheels: 3; Electrical System: 1; Power Train: 1; Steering: 1; Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump: 1

Reported problems by failure mileage

Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.

Under 25,000

25,000 to 49,999

50,000 to 74,999

75,000 to 99,999

100,000 to 149,999

150,000 and above

Under 25,000: 0; 25,000 to 49,999: 1; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 0; 150,000 and above: 0

25,000 to 49,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (1). 4 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.

2008

2011

2022

2008: 3; 2011: 1; 2022: 1

Pattern summary

Service Brakes, Air leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 3 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Electrical and battery issues appears in 1 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 10224599 · 2008-04-15 (April 15, 2008)

BUSES MANUFACTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT FRONT HUB PILOTED WHEELS CANNOT BE CENTERED ON HUB CREATING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AT ALL SPEEDS AND CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. ADDITIONALLY BRAKES ON THE SAME BUSES ARE CONTINUALLY REPORTED AS BEING EXCESSIVELY LOUD AND VIBRATING SEVERELY WHEN APPLIED. BRAKES POSSIBLY RELATED TO UNCENTERED WHEELS. PROBLEM REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER/DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10224599 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10224602 · 2008-04-15 (April 15, 2008)

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10224602 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 11479527 · 2022-08-16 (August 16, 2022)

It appears the battery cables were rubbing the transmission cooler lines and after an extended period caused a thermal event. it burned wiring harnesses, the DEF pump and lines and a good portion of battery cable. Had there been children on the bus at the time of the thermal event it could have been catastrophic. This vehicle has been inspected by the Manufacturer and they are covering repairs. There has been an interim/info only recall issued. FL928-A.

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11479527 at NHTSA ↗

Owner report 10399367 · 2011-05-06 (May 6, 2011)

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER HDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,107. UPDATED 10/4/11 *CN

Owner-reported narrative. 26,635 miles reported. Look up ODI 10399367 at NHTSA ↗

Compare model years

Recalls by model year

All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.

From yearThrough year

Recall campaigns

Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016

2017

2018

2019

2020

2021

2022

2023

2024

2025

2026

2010: 16; 2011: 23; 2012: 19; 2013: 23; 2014: 30; 2015: 31; 2016: 29; 2017: 32; 2018: 26; 2019: 21; 2020: 18; 2021: 16; 2022: 11; 2023: 8; 2024: 2; 2025: 3; 2026: 3

First model yearSecond model year

Year-by-year records

Thomas Built Buses SAF-T-LINER HDX model-year comparison
Model year	Complaints	Recalls	Change in recalls
2002	0	1	Not available
2003	0	5	+4
2004	2	5	0
2005	0	5	0
2006	1	9	+4
2007	0	10	+1
2008	0	14	+4
2009	1	14	0
2010	0	16	+2
2011	0	23	+7
2012	0	19	-4
2013	0	23	+4
2014	0	30	+7
2015	0	31	+1
2016	0	29	-2
2017	0	32	+3
2018	0	26	-6
2019	1	21	-5
2020	0	18	-3
2021	0	16	-2
2022	0	11	-5
2023	0	8	-3
2024	0	2	-6
2025	0	3	+1
2026	0	3	0

Explore the data

Vehicle analysis explorer

Inspect model-year patterns, reported mileage, monthly activity and the evidence behind each signal.

Data completeness

5 unique complaints in this selection. Analysis snapshot: 2026-10-01.

20.0%Usable mileage1 / 5 records

100.0%Valid incident date5 / 5 records

100.0%Valid filing date5 / 5 records

100.0%Ordered incident and filing dates5 / 5 records

Missing, zero and invalid mileage is excluded. Dates after the snapshot are excluded. Examples are limited selections, not a representative sample.

Problems by model year

Model-wide comparison of the eight most reported components across the model. Cells show counts and shares within each model year. Open a cell for source examples.

From model yearThrough model year

Component complaint heatmap
Component	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016	2017	2018	2019	2020	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025	2026
Service Brakes, Air	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Wheels	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Electrical System	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 11479527 It appears the battery cables were rubbing the transmission cooler lines and after an extended period caused a thermal event. it burned wiring harnesses, the DEF pump and lines and a good portion of battery cable. Had there been children on the bus at the time of the thermal event it could have been catastrophic. This vehicle has been inspected by the Manufacturer and they are covering repairs. There has been an interim/info only recall issued. FL928-A. Look up ODI 11479527 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Power Train	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	1100.0% ODI 11479527 It appears the battery cables were rubbing the transmission cooler lines and after an extended period caused a thermal event. it burned wiring harnesses, the DEF pump and lines and a good portion of battery cable. Had there been children on the bus at the time of the thermal event it could have been catastrophic. This vehicle has been inspected by the Manufacturer and they are covering repairs. There has been an interim/info only recall issued. FL928-A. Look up ODI 11479527 at NHTSA ↗	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Steering	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	00.0% No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.	0Unavailable No examples available for this selection.

Darker cells indicate a larger share of submitted complaints. Components overlap. This measures complaint composition, not failure probability.

Failure mileage by component

Median and middle 50% of usable owner-reported mileages. Ranges require at least five records.

Component failure mileage distribution
Component	Mileage range (25th–75th percentile)	Median	Usable records	Examples
Steering	Too few reports for a range	26,635 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10399367 · 26,635 mi TLTHE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER HDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,107. UPDATED 10/4/11 CN Look up ODI 10399367 at NHTSA ↗
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump	Too few reports for a range	26,635 mi	1 (sparse)	ODI 10399367 · 26,635 mi TLTHE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER HDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,107. UPDATED 10/4/11 CN Look up ODI 10399367 at NHTSA ↗

Complaint and recall timeline

Explore monthly filing activity alongside recall announcements. Up to ten years of monthly history is available.

ComponentPeriod

Solid line: filed complaints. Dashed amber lines: recall announcement dates for this vehicle selection; markers include all recall components. The latest month is partial. Temporal proximity does not establish causation.

Monthly counts, recall campaigns and complaint examples

Monthly complaint and recall timeline
Month	Campaigns announced	Examples
2024-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2024-12	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-02	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-09	25V604000	No examples available for this selection.
2025-10	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-11	None	No examples available for this selection.
2025-12	25V849000	No examples available for this selection.
2026-01	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-02	26V086000, 26V087000	No examples available for this selection.
2026-03	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-04	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-05	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-06	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-07	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-08	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-09	None	No examples available for this selection.
2026-10 (partial)	None	No examples available for this selection.

Emerging complaint spikes

Complete months in the latest six months with at least 10 complaints, at least twice the preceding 12-month average, and at least three square-root deviations above that average.

This is a descriptive screening rule, not a statistical defect finding. Publicity and reporting changes can increase submissions.

No complete months meet the spike thresholds for this selection.

Equal-age model-year comparison

Model-wide cumulative reports during the first three or five calendar years, starting with the model year (age 0). Only fully elapsed windows are compared.

Observation windowFirst model yearSecond model year

2022: 0 complaints · 2023: 0 complaints

Equal observation windows
Model year	Through age 0	Through age 1	Through age 2
2022	0	0	0
2023	0	0	0

Date coverage across each selected cohort

Date basis for all complaints in selected model years
Year	Incident dates used	Filing date fallbacks	Excluded dates
2022	0	0	0
2023	0	0	0

Incident date is preferred when valid and no later than filing; otherwise filing date is used. Model year approximates age. Equal observation time does not adjust for sales, distance driven or reporting delays. One complaint linked to multiple model years can appear in each cohort.

Components reported together

Each cell counts unique complaints naming both components. Open a nonzero cell for examples.

Component co-occurrence matrix
Component	Service Brakes, Air	Wheels	Electrical System	Power Train	Steering	Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump
Service Brakes, Air	—	3 ODI 10224599 BUSES MANUFACTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT FRONT HUB PILOTED WHEELS CANNOT BE CENTERED ON HUB CREATING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AT ALL SPEEDS AND CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. ADDITIONALLY BRAKES ON THE SAME BUSES ARE CONTINUALLY REPORTED AS BEING EXCESSIVELY LOUD AND VIBRATING SEVERELY WHEN APPLIED. BRAKES POSSIBLY RELATED TO UNCENTERED WHEELS. PROBLEM REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER/DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. TR Look up ODI 10224599 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10224602 BUSES MANUFACTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT FRONT HUB PILOTED WHEELS CANNOT BE CENTERED ON HUB CREATING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AT ALL SPEEDS AND CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. ADDITIONALLY BRAKES ON THE SAME BUSES ARE CONTINUALLY REPORTED AS BEING EXCESSIVELY LOUD AND VIBRATING SEVERELY WHEN APPLIED. BRAKES POSSIBLY RELATED TO UNCENTERED WHEELS. PROBLEM REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER/DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. TR Look up ODI 10224602 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10224604 BUSES MANUFACTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT FRONT HUB PILOTED WHEELS CANNOT BE CENTERED ON HUB CREATING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AT ALL SPEEDS AND CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. ADDITIONALLY BRAKES ON THE SAME BUSES ARE CONTINUALLY REPORTED AS BEING EXCESSIVELY LOUD AND VIBRATING SEVERELY WHEN APPLIED. BRAKES POSSIBLY RELATED TO UNCENTERED WHEELS. PROBLEM REPORTED TO MANUFACTURED/DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. *TR Look up ODI 10224604 at NHTSA ↗	0	0	0	0
Wheels	3 ODI 10224599 BUSES MANUFACTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT FRONT HUB PILOTED WHEELS CANNOT BE CENTERED ON HUB CREATING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AT ALL SPEEDS AND CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. ADDITIONALLY BRAKES ON THE SAME BUSES ARE CONTINUALLY REPORTED AS BEING EXCESSIVELY LOUD AND VIBRATING SEVERELY WHEN APPLIED. BRAKES POSSIBLY RELATED TO UNCENTERED WHEELS. PROBLEM REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER/DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. TR Look up ODI 10224599 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10224602 BUSES MANUFACTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT FRONT HUB PILOTED WHEELS CANNOT BE CENTERED ON HUB CREATING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AT ALL SPEEDS AND CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. ADDITIONALLY BRAKES ON THE SAME BUSES ARE CONTINUALLY REPORTED AS BEING EXCESSIVELY LOUD AND VIBRATING SEVERELY WHEN APPLIED. BRAKES POSSIBLY RELATED TO UNCENTERED WHEELS. PROBLEM REPORTED TO MANUFACTURER/DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. TR Look up ODI 10224602 at NHTSA ↗ ODI 10224604 BUSES MANUFACTURED IN SUCH A WAY THAT FRONT HUB PILOTED WHEELS CANNOT BE CENTERED ON HUB CREATING EXCESSIVE VIBRATION AT ALL SPEEDS AND CAUSING AN UNSAFE CONDITION. ADDITIONALLY BRAKES ON THE SAME BUSES ARE CONTINUALLY REPORTED AS BEING EXCESSIVELY LOUD AND VIBRATING SEVERELY WHEN APPLIED. BRAKES POSSIBLY RELATED TO UNCENTERED WHEELS. PROBLEM REPORTED TO MANUFACTURED/DEALER NUMEROUS TIMES WITH NO RESOLUTION. *TR Look up ODI 10224604 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0	0	0
Electrical System	0	0	—	1 ODI 11479527 It appears the battery cables were rubbing the transmission cooler lines and after an extended period caused a thermal event. it burned wiring harnesses, the DEF pump and lines and a good portion of battery cable. Had there been children on the bus at the time of the thermal event it could have been catastrophic. This vehicle has been inspected by the Manufacturer and they are covering repairs. There has been an interim/info only recall issued. FL928-A. Look up ODI 11479527 at NHTSA ↗	0	0
Power Train	0	0	1 ODI 11479527 It appears the battery cables were rubbing the transmission cooler lines and after an extended period caused a thermal event. it burned wiring harnesses, the DEF pump and lines and a good portion of battery cable. Had there been children on the bus at the time of the thermal event it could have been catastrophic. This vehicle has been inspected by the Manufacturer and they are covering repairs. There has been an interim/info only recall issued. FL928-A. Look up ODI 11479527 at NHTSA ↗	—	0	0
Steering	0	0	0	0	—	1 ODI 10399367 · 26,635 mi TLTHE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER HDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,107. UPDATED 10/4/11 CN Look up ODI 10399367 at NHTSA ↗
Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Pump	0	0	0	0	1 ODI 10399367 · 26,635 mi TLTHE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 THOMAS BUILT SAF-T-LINER HDX. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH THE POWER STEERING FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER AND TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING HYDRAULIC PUMP FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 37,107. UPDATED 10/4/11 CN Look up ODI 10399367 at NHTSA ↗	—

Co-reporting does not establish that one component caused another concern.

Recurring narrative patterns

Specific keyword mentions beyond broad component labels. Matching includes negations and comparisons and does not confirm a diagnosis.

Search patterns

1 patterns with matching reports.

Steering assistance concerns

1 mentions · 20.0% of complaints

Median mileage: 26,635 mi (1 usable records).

ODI 10399367 · 26,635 mi

Look up ODI 10399367 at NHTSA ↗

Matching rule

\b(power steer\w*|steering assist\w*|steering lock\w*|steering wheel lock\w*)\b