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2008 Blue Bird All American

Component

Parking Brake

Consequence of Defect

certain my 2007 and 2008 blue bird vision and all american school and transit buses manufactured between december 1, 2005, and may 24, 2007, and equipped with bendix sr-7 spring brake modulating valves. the internal rubber check valve may leak causing a delay in the application of the spring brakes to park the vehicle after the operator pulls the dash valve button.

Corrective Action

the delayed parking brake application can occur without warning, leading to unintended vehicle rollaway.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify owners and provide a free remedy. the recall began on september 30, 2007. owners can contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2008 Blue Bird All American

Component

Parking Brake

Consequence of Defect

certain my 2007 and 2008 blue bird vision and all american school and transit buses manufactured between december 1, 2005, and may 24, 2007, and equipped with bendix sr-7 spring brake modulating valves. the internal rubber check valve may leak causing a delay in the application of the spring brakes to park the vehicle after the operator pulls the dash valve button.

Corrective Action

the delayed parking brake application can occur without warning, leading to unintended vehicle rollaway.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify owners and provide a free remedy. the recall began on september 30, 2007. owners can contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2008 Blue Bird All American

Component

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel

Consequence of Defect

certain blue bird my 2008 all american and vision school buses manufactured between june 6 and july 27, 2007. a fuel pump failure will dilute the engine oil with fuel and cause loss of throttle control and excessive smoke.

Corrective Action

either condition could result in a vehicle crash.

Recall Notes

blue bird is working in conjunction with caterpillar to notify owners to contact their local caterpillar dealer for a free remedy. the recall is expected to begin during august 2007. owners can contact caterpillar at 1-800-447-4986 or blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2008 Blue Bird All American

Component

Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear

Consequence of Defect

certain my 2006 through 2008 blue bird all american rear engine school and transit buses manufactured from january 14, 2005, through march 13, 2007, equipped with emergency push out windows. the subject buses were manufactured with incorrect number of emergency exits which does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, bus emergency exits and window retention and release.

Corrective Action

the purpose of this standard is to minimize the likelihood of occupants being thrown from the bus and to provide a means of readily accessible emergency egress.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify owners and install additional emergency exit windows on each side of the subject buses free of charge. the recall is expected to begin on august 15, 2007. owners can contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2008 Blue Bird All American

Component

Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear

Consequence of Defect

certain my 2006 through 2008 blue bird all american rear engine school and transit buses manufactured from january 14, 2005, through march 13, 2007, equipped with emergency push out windows. the subject buses were manufactured with incorrect number of emergency exits which does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, bus emergency exits and window retention and release.

Corrective Action

the purpose of this standard is to minimize the likelihood of occupants being thrown from the bus and to provide a means of readily accessible emergency egress.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify owners and install additional emergency exit windows on each side of the subject buses free of charge. the recall is expected to begin on august 15, 2007. owners can contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2007 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment Adaptive

Consequence of Defect

certain 2006 and 2007 my blue bird all american, conventional, and micro bird school buses manufactured from july 16, 2005 through august 29, 2006, equipped with model 900 series wheelchair lifts manufactured by the braun corporation. the threshold warning system may not activate as designed which fails to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, platform lift installations for motor vehicles.

Corrective Action

should the threshold warning system fail to operate, the lift user can fall from the vehicle and be seriously injured.

Recall Notes

owners will be notified by blue bird instructing them to contact braun for free repair. the recall january 16, 2008. owners can contact either blue bird at 478-822-2242 or braun product support at 1-800-946-7513.

2007 Blue Bird All American

Component

Parking Brake

Consequence of Defect

certain my 2007 and 2008 blue bird vision and all american school and transit buses manufactured between december 1, 2005, and may 24, 2007, and equipped with bendix sr-7 spring brake modulating valves. the internal rubber check valve may leak causing a delay in the application of the spring brakes to park the vehicle after the operator pulls the dash valve button.

Corrective Action

the delayed parking brake application can occur without warning, leading to unintended vehicle rollaway.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify owners and provide a free remedy. the recall began on september 30, 2007. owners can contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2007 Blue Bird All American

Component

Parking Brake

Consequence of Defect

certain my 2007 and 2008 blue bird vision and all american school and transit buses manufactured between december 1, 2005, and may 24, 2007, and equipped with bendix sr-7 spring brake modulating valves. the internal rubber check valve may leak causing a delay in the application of the spring brakes to park the vehicle after the operator pulls the dash valve button.

Corrective Action

the delayed parking brake application can occur without warning, leading to unintended vehicle rollaway.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify owners and provide a free remedy. the recall began on september 30, 2007. owners can contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2007 Blue Bird All American

Component

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel

Consequence of Defect

blue bird is recalling 607 my 2004-2007 all american rear engine school buses and my 2006-2007 xcel 102 commercial series transit buses equipped with cummins isc engines. the high pressure fuel line may crack, allowing high pressure diesel fuel into the engine compartment.

Corrective Action

this condition creates the potential for a risk of fire in the engine compartment should the atomized diesel fuel vapor contact an ignition source.

Recall Notes

owners will be advised to contact their cummins dealers to have the repair work performed as soon as possible. the recall is expected to begin on or about march 18, 2008. owners may contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2007 Blue Bird All American

Component

Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear

Consequence of Defect

certain my 2006 through 2008 blue bird all american rear engine school and transit buses manufactured from january 14, 2005, through march 13, 2007, equipped with emergency push out windows. the subject buses were manufactured with incorrect number of emergency exits which does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, bus emergency exits and window retention and release.

Corrective Action

the purpose of this standard is to minimize the likelihood of occupants being thrown from the bus and to provide a means of readily accessible emergency egress.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify owners and install additional emergency exit windows on each side of the subject buses free of charge. the recall is expected to begin on august 15, 2007. owners can contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2007 Blue Bird All American

Component

Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear

Consequence of Defect

certain my 2006 through 2008 blue bird all american rear engine school and transit buses manufactured from january 14, 2005, through march 13, 2007, equipped with emergency push out windows. the subject buses were manufactured with incorrect number of emergency exits which does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, bus emergency exits and window retention and release.

Corrective Action

the purpose of this standard is to minimize the likelihood of occupants being thrown from the bus and to provide a means of readily accessible emergency egress.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify owners and install additional emergency exit windows on each side of the subject buses free of charge. the recall is expected to begin on august 15, 2007. owners can contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2006 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure

Consequence of Defect

certain blue bird my 2006 all american front and rear engine school buses manufactured from december 6, 2004, through april 8, 2005. the interior side wall panels fail to conform to the joint strength requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, school bus body joint strength.

Corrective Action

in the event of a crash, the panels can separate exposing the passengers to serious injury.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and repair the affected buses free of charge. the recall began may 26, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2006 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment Adaptive

Consequence of Defect

certain 2006 and 2007 my blue bird all american, conventional, and micro bird school buses manufactured from july 16, 2005 through august 29, 2006, equipped with model 900 series wheelchair lifts manufactured by the braun corporation. the threshold warning system may not activate as designed which fails to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, platform lift installations for motor vehicles.

Corrective Action

should the threshold warning system fail to operate, the lift user can fall from the vehicle and be seriously injured.

Recall Notes

owners will be notified by blue bird instructing them to contact braun for free repair. the recall january 16, 2008. owners can contact either blue bird at 478-822-2242 or braun product support at 1-800-946-7513.

2006 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Battery

Consequence of Defect

certain 2001 through 2006 my blue bird all american, tc2000, and vision transit school buses manufactured between january 5, 2001, and july 15, 2005. these buses are equipped with a battery disconnect switch that has connections that may be loose on the battery switch studs creating the potential for the bus to shut down while in operation.

Corrective Action

should the bus shut down while in operation, a vehicle crash could occur.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its owners and instruct them on how to repair the switch. the recall began on october 19 , 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2006 Blue Bird All American

Component

Other:School Bus Stop Arm Assembly

Consequence of Defect

this is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. however, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. certain blue bird 2002 through 2006 my all american, conventional, minibird, microbird, vision, and tc2000 school buses originally sold in or currently registered in states other than the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north dakota, ohio, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming, and the district of columbia. in extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the sign in the open and closed positions may malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.

Corrective Action

should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian may be endangered by passing motorists should the motorist not stop at the correct location.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify all its customers of this campaign. for those buses operated in or near any of the states listed above, blue bird is encouraging the bus owners to obtain the replacement switch. for those buses operated in the warmer states, blue bird will replace the switch upon owner request. for those customers who request the remedy, blue bird will replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected. the safety improvement campaign began on august 12, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2006 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment Adaptive

Consequence of Defect

certain my 2006 all american school and transit buses and 2006 conventional vision school buses manufactured between july 7 and november 8, 2005, equipped with ricon s and k series platform style wheelchair lifts . the vertical support arms for the lifts were improperly welded allowing the lift to stow improperly.

Corrective Action

in the event this condition occurs during passenger operations it may not be possible to close the lift door causing the vehicle interlocks to remain engaged preventing movement of the vehicle or the ability to load or unload passengers with disabilities from the vehicle.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and repair the buses free of charge. the recall began on may 5, 2006. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2006 Blue Bird All American

Component

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel

Consequence of Defect

blue bird is recalling 607 my 2004-2007 all american rear engine school buses and my 2006-2007 xcel 102 commercial series transit buses equipped with cummins isc engines. the high pressure fuel line may crack, allowing high pressure diesel fuel into the engine compartment.

Corrective Action

this condition creates the potential for a risk of fire in the engine compartment should the atomized diesel fuel vapor contact an ignition source.

Recall Notes

owners will be advised to contact their cummins dealers to have the repair work performed as soon as possible. the recall is expected to begin on or about march 18, 2008. owners may contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2006 Blue Bird All American

Component

Other:School Bus Stop Arm Assembly

Consequence of Defect

certain school buses originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north dakota, ohio, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming, and the district of columbia. in extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the stop arm sign in the open and closed positions may malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.

Corrective Action

should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian may be endangered by passing vehicles should the motorist not stop at the correct location.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected free of charge. the recall began on august 12, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2006 Blue Bird All American

Component

Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear

Consequence of Defect

certain my 2006 through 2008 blue bird all american rear engine school and transit buses manufactured from january 14, 2005, through march 13, 2007, equipped with emergency push out windows. the subject buses were manufactured with incorrect number of emergency exits which does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, bus emergency exits and window retention and release.

Corrective Action

the purpose of this standard is to minimize the likelihood of occupants being thrown from the bus and to provide a means of readily accessible emergency egress.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify owners and install additional emergency exit windows on each side of the subject buses free of charge. the recall is expected to begin on august 15, 2007. owners can contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2006 Blue Bird All American

Component

Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear

Consequence of Defect

certain my 2006 through 2008 blue bird all american rear engine school and transit buses manufactured from january 14, 2005, through march 13, 2007, equipped with emergency push out windows. the subject buses were manufactured with incorrect number of emergency exits which does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, bus emergency exits and window retention and release.

Corrective Action

the purpose of this standard is to minimize the likelihood of occupants being thrown from the bus and to provide a means of readily accessible emergency egress.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify owners and install additional emergency exit windows on each side of the subject buses free of charge. the recall is expected to begin on august 15, 2007. owners can contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2006 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seats

Consequence of Defect

certain my 2006 blue bird all american and vision school buses manufactured between february 9 and april 15, 2005. seat spacing in front of the side emergency door flip up seat exceeds the maximum allowed spacing as required by federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 222, school bus passenger seating and crash protection.

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

all the affected buses have been repaired by blue bird distributors. therefore, it will not be necessary for blue bird to mail out owner notification letters to customers.

2005 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure

Consequence of Defect

all american school buses manufactured between january 10 and april 20, 2004, which the inside panels adjacent to the rear center emergency door (or rear center emergency window on rear engine models) do not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, school bus body joint strength. adhesive was inadvertantlt omitted from these joints on the affected population.

Corrective Action

the vehicle occupants may be seriously injured in the event of a vehicle crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be notified to make an appointment with their blue bird distributor to have the inside rear panels removed and properly adhere the panels. owner notification is expected to begin june 9, 2004. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2005 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control

Consequence of Defect

certain 2001 through 2005 all american, commercial series, and q-bus school and transit buses equipped with john deere 8.1 cng engines. the subject buses equipped with the john deere engines may surge inappropriately due to erractic operation of the air throttle if the engine is taken from full to zero load.

Corrective Action

unexpected engine surge could result in a vehicle crash, possibly resulting in personal injury.

Recall Notes

john deere will notify blue bird's customers and repair the engines free of charge. customers are being instructed to contact john deere at 1-800-jd-engine.

2005 Blue Bird All American

Component

Engine And Engine Cooling

Consequence of Defect

certain 2002-2006 my blue bird all american school and transit buses, conventional school buses, and commercial series transit buses manufactured between december 21, 2002, and february 24, 2005. these buses are equipped with webasto coolant heaters, model dbw 2010, assembled with webasto burner tubes, p/n 303046/26533a manufactured between november 2002 and february 2005. the stainless steel burner tube is made out of a material that is not to specification and could fail prematurely.

Corrective Action

should the burner tube fail, the coolant heater could overheat, possibly resulting in a fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and replace the burner tubes free of charge. the recall began on march 31, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2005 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Battery

Consequence of Defect

certain 2001 through 2006 my blue bird all american, tc2000, and vision transit school buses manufactured between january 5, 2001, and july 15, 2005. these buses are equipped with a battery disconnect switch that has connections that may be loose on the battery switch studs creating the potential for the bus to shut down while in operation.

Corrective Action

should the bus shut down while in operation, a vehicle crash could occur.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its owners and instruct them on how to repair the switch. the recall began on october 19 , 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2005 Blue Bird All American

Component

Other:School Bus Stop Arm Assembly

Consequence of Defect

this is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. however, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. certain blue bird 2002 through 2006 my all american, conventional, minibird, microbird, vision, and tc2000 school buses originally sold in or currently registered in states other than the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north dakota, ohio, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming, and the district of columbia. in extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the sign in the open and closed positions may malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.

Corrective Action

should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian may be endangered by passing motorists should the motorist not stop at the correct location.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify all its customers of this campaign. for those buses operated in or near any of the states listed above, blue bird is encouraging the bus owners to obtain the replacement switch. for those buses operated in the warmer states, blue bird will replace the switch upon owner request. for those customers who request the remedy, blue bird will replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected. the safety improvement campaign began on august 12, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2005 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seat Belts

Consequence of Defect

school and transit buses equipped with driver's 3-point seat belts with incorrect fasteners.

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, the shoulder strap can fail, and the driver could be seriously injured.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers to make an appointment with their blue bird distributor to have the driver's 3-point seat belt upper attaching fasteners replaced free of charge. owner notification is expected to begin june 8, 2004. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2005 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body:Roof And Pillars

Consequence of Defect

certain my 2005 blue bird all american model school buses manufactured from may 24 through july 12, 2004. these buses fail to comply with federal motor vehicle safety standard no 221, school bus body joint strength. the rivet pattern may be incorrect in sections of the rear roof sheet joint that attaches to the rear roof cap.

Corrective Action

in the event of a crash, these panels could separate, exposing vehicle occupants to increased risk of injury.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and provide instructions and parts to add additional rivets as needed. the recall began august 16, 2004. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2005 Blue Bird All American

Component

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel

Consequence of Defect

blue bird is recalling 607 my 2004-2007 all american rear engine school buses and my 2006-2007 xcel 102 commercial series transit buses equipped with cummins isc engines. the high pressure fuel line may crack, allowing high pressure diesel fuel into the engine compartment.

Corrective Action

this condition creates the potential for a risk of fire in the engine compartment should the atomized diesel fuel vapor contact an ignition source.

Recall Notes

owners will be advised to contact their cummins dealers to have the repair work performed as soon as possible. the recall is expected to begin on or about march 18, 2008. owners may contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2005 Blue Bird All American

Component

Other:School Bus Stop Arm Assembly

Consequence of Defect

certain school buses originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north dakota, ohio, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming, and the district of columbia. in extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the stop arm sign in the open and closed positions may malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.

Corrective Action

should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian may be endangered by passing vehicles should the motorist not stop at the correct location.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected free of charge. the recall began on august 12, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2005 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment Adaptive

Consequence of Defect

certain blue bird 1999-2005 all american, tc/2000, micro bird, vision, conventional, and commercial series school buses equipped with sure-loc wheelchair securement systems and manufactured between february 17, 1999, and august 13, 2004. certain sure-lok wheelchair tie-down securement assemblies p/n 8625-13. the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly may be out of alignment causing the load pawl not to fully seat in the sprocket teeth.

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and replace the defective part free of charge. the recall began september 21, 2004. owners who take their buses to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact at blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2004 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage

Consequence of Defect

on certain rear engine (a3re) school buses, the type and location of the fasteners used to retain the seat belt in the last row of seats does not conform to blue bird engineering specifications.

Corrective Action

this installation may not adequately retain seat belts in the event of a severe crash.

Recall Notes

blue bird will provide its distributors and owners the parts and instructions to install the correct fasteners free of charge. owner notification is expected to begin november 20, 2003. owners who do not receive the parts and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2004 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seats

Consequence of Defect

on certain school buses equipped with optional seat belts or seat belt øreadyø seats, some belts were installed with only two bolts rather than the required three (3) bolts.

Corrective Action

these seats could detach from the wall side attachment points in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.

Recall Notes

blue bird will furnish to distributors and owners, parts and instructions necessary to install the missing bolt free of charge. owner notification is expected to on november 3, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2004 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Consequence of Defect

on certain front engine school and transit buses equipped with hydraulic brakes, the rear hydraulic brake hose could contact the frame rail and abrade, allowing brake fluid leakage.

Corrective Action

if this occurs, vehicle braking could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will inspect the rear brake hose to frame rail clearance and reposition the brake hose clamps at the axle to ensure adequate clearance. any chafed brake hoses will be replaced. owner notification began december 12, 2002. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2004 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control

Consequence of Defect

certain 2001 through 2005 all american, commercial series, and q-bus school and transit buses equipped with john deere 8.1 cng engines. the subject buses equipped with the john deere engines may surge inappropriately due to erractic operation of the air throttle if the engine is taken from full to zero load.

Corrective Action

unexpected engine surge could result in a vehicle crash, possibly resulting in personal injury.

Recall Notes

john deere will notify blue bird's customers and repair the engines free of charge. customers are being instructed to contact john deere at 1-800-jd-engine.

2004 Blue Bird All American

Component

Engine And Engine Cooling

Consequence of Defect

certain 2002-2006 my blue bird all american school and transit buses, conventional school buses, and commercial series transit buses manufactured between december 21, 2002, and february 24, 2005. these buses are equipped with webasto coolant heaters, model dbw 2010, assembled with webasto burner tubes, p/n 303046/26533a manufactured between november 2002 and february 2005. the stainless steel burner tube is made out of a material that is not to specification and could fail prematurely.

Corrective Action

should the burner tube fail, the coolant heater could overheat, possibly resulting in a fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and replace the burner tubes free of charge. the recall began on march 31, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2004 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Battery

Consequence of Defect

certain 2001 through 2006 my blue bird all american, tc2000, and vision transit school buses manufactured between january 5, 2001, and july 15, 2005. these buses are equipped with a battery disconnect switch that has connections that may be loose on the battery switch studs creating the potential for the bus to shut down while in operation.

Corrective Action

should the bus shut down while in operation, a vehicle crash could occur.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its owners and instruct them on how to repair the switch. the recall began on october 19 , 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2004 Blue Bird All American

Component

Other:School Bus Stop Arm Assembly

Consequence of Defect

this is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. however, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. certain blue bird 2002 through 2006 my all american, conventional, minibird, microbird, vision, and tc2000 school buses originally sold in or currently registered in states other than the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north dakota, ohio, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming, and the district of columbia. in extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the sign in the open and closed positions may malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.

Corrective Action

should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian may be endangered by passing motorists should the motorist not stop at the correct location.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify all its customers of this campaign. for those buses operated in or near any of the states listed above, blue bird is encouraging the bus owners to obtain the replacement switch. for those buses operated in the warmer states, blue bird will replace the switch upon owner request. for those customers who request the remedy, blue bird will replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected. the safety improvement campaign began on august 12, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2004 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

certain school buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, "school bus body joint strength." one or more of the bolts attaching the driver's platform to the floor structure was omitted.

Corrective Action

the rear of the driver's platform may not be properly retained in the event of a crash which could increase the risk of injury or death to passengers.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and inspect and repair the affected units. owner notification began on november 20, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2004 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seat Belts

Consequence of Defect

school and transit buses equipped with driver's 3-point seat belts with incorrect fasteners.

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, the shoulder strap can fail, and the driver could be seriously injured.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers to make an appointment with their blue bird distributor to have the driver's 3-point seat belt upper attaching fasteners replaced free of charge. owner notification is expected to begin june 8, 2004. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2004 Blue Bird All American

Component

Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel

Consequence of Defect

blue bird is recalling 607 my 2004-2007 all american rear engine school buses and my 2006-2007 xcel 102 commercial series transit buses equipped with cummins isc engines. the high pressure fuel line may crack, allowing high pressure diesel fuel into the engine compartment.

Corrective Action

this condition creates the potential for a risk of fire in the engine compartment should the atomized diesel fuel vapor contact an ignition source.

Recall Notes

owners will be advised to contact their cummins dealers to have the repair work performed as soon as possible. the recall is expected to begin on or about march 18, 2008. owners may contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2004 Blue Bird All American

Component

Other:School Bus Stop Arm Assembly

Consequence of Defect

certain school buses originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north dakota, ohio, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming, and the district of columbia. in extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the stop arm sign in the open and closed positions may malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.

Corrective Action

should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian may be endangered by passing vehicles should the motorist not stop at the correct location.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected free of charge. the recall began on august 12, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2004 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment Adaptive

Consequence of Defect

certain blue bird 1999-2005 all american, tc/2000, micro bird, vision, conventional, and commercial series school buses equipped with sure-loc wheelchair securement systems and manufactured between february 17, 1999, and august 13, 2004. certain sure-lok wheelchair tie-down securement assemblies p/n 8625-13. the sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly may be out of alignment causing the load pawl not to fully seat in the sprocket teeth.

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair may not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and replace the defective part free of charge. the recall began september 21, 2004. owners who take their buses to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact at blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2003 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage

Consequence of Defect

on certain rear engine (a3re) school buses, the type and location of the fasteners used to retain the seat belt in the last row of seats does not conform to blue bird engineering specifications.

Corrective Action

this installation may not adequately retain seat belts in the event of a severe crash.

Recall Notes

blue bird will provide its distributors and owners the parts and instructions to install the correct fasteners free of charge. owner notification is expected to begin november 20, 2003. owners who do not receive the parts and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2003 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seats

Consequence of Defect

on certain school buses equipped with optional seat belts or seat belt øreadyø seats, some belts were installed with only two bolts rather than the required three (3) bolts.

Corrective Action

these seats could detach from the wall side attachment points in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.

Recall Notes

blue bird will furnish to distributors and owners, parts and instructions necessary to install the missing bolt free of charge. owner notification is expected to on november 3, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2003 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Consequence of Defect

on certain front engine school and transit buses equipped with hydraulic brakes, the rear hydraulic brake hose could contact the frame rail and abrade, allowing brake fluid leakage.

Corrective Action

if this occurs, vehicle braking could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will inspect the rear brake hose to frame rail clearance and reposition the brake hose clamps at the axle to ensure adequate clearance. any chafed brake hoses will be replaced. owner notification began december 12, 2002. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2003 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control

Consequence of Defect

certain 2001 through 2005 all american, commercial series, and q-bus school and transit buses equipped with john deere 8.1 cng engines. the subject buses equipped with the john deere engines may surge inappropriately due to erractic operation of the air throttle if the engine is taken from full to zero load.

Corrective Action

unexpected engine surge could result in a vehicle crash, possibly resulting in personal injury.

Recall Notes

john deere will notify blue bird's customers and repair the engines free of charge. customers are being instructed to contact john deere at 1-800-jd-engine.

2003 Blue Bird All American

Component

Engine And Engine Cooling

Consequence of Defect

certain 2002-2006 my blue bird all american school and transit buses, conventional school buses, and commercial series transit buses manufactured between december 21, 2002, and february 24, 2005. these buses are equipped with webasto coolant heaters, model dbw 2010, assembled with webasto burner tubes, p/n 303046/26533a manufactured between november 2002 and february 2005. the stainless steel burner tube is made out of a material that is not to specification and could fail prematurely.

Corrective Action

should the burner tube fail, the coolant heater could overheat, possibly resulting in a fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and replace the burner tubes free of charge. the recall began on march 31, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2003 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Battery

Consequence of Defect

certain 2001 through 2006 my blue bird all american, tc2000, and vision transit school buses manufactured between january 5, 2001, and july 15, 2005. these buses are equipped with a battery disconnect switch that has connections that may be loose on the battery switch studs creating the potential for the bus to shut down while in operation.

Corrective Action

should the bus shut down while in operation, a vehicle crash could occur.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its owners and instruct them on how to repair the switch. the recall began on october 19 , 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2003 Blue Bird All American

Component

Other:School Bus Stop Arm Assembly

Consequence of Defect

this is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. however, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. certain blue bird 2002 through 2006 my all american, conventional, minibird, microbird, vision, and tc2000 school buses originally sold in or currently registered in states other than the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north dakota, ohio, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming, and the district of columbia. in extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the sign in the open and closed positions may malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.

Corrective Action

should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian may be endangered by passing motorists should the motorist not stop at the correct location.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify all its customers of this campaign. for those buses operated in or near any of the states listed above, blue bird is encouraging the bus owners to obtain the replacement switch. for those buses operated in the warmer states, blue bird will replace the switch upon owner request. for those customers who request the remedy, blue bird will replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected. the safety improvement campaign began on august 12, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2003 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

certain school buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, "school bus body joint strength." one or more of the bolts attaching the driver's platform to the floor structure was omitted.

Corrective Action

the rear of the driver's platform may not be properly retained in the event of a crash which could increase the risk of injury or death to passengers.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and inspect and repair the affected units. owner notification began on november 20, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2003 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Wiring

Consequence of Defect

on certain rear engine school and transit buses equipped with cummins isb engines, the wiring harness to the combustion air intake grid heater could chafe against engine components.

Corrective Action

the harness can wear through causing an electrical short in the grid heater power supply, increasing the risk of a fire.

Recall Notes

owners will be contacted and advised to add a bracket to support the harness away from the engine components. blue bird will provide a replacement harness for any harnesses found abraded and will reimburse the customer for the labor required to replace the harness. owner notification is expected to begin on or about september 29, 2002. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2003 Blue Bird All American

Component

Other:School Bus Stop Arm Assembly

Consequence of Defect

certain school buses originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north dakota, ohio, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming, and the district of columbia. in extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the stop arm sign in the open and closed positions may malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.

Corrective Action

should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian may be endangered by passing vehicles should the motorist not stop at the correct location.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected free of charge. the recall began on august 12, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment:Other:Labels

Consequence of Defect

certain transit buses fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle standard no. 101, "controls and displays." this standard requires specific labeling for "engine start" and "engine stop." the wording of the labels on these vehicles do not meet the requirements of the standard.

Corrective Action

the operator could place the engine switch in a position other than that intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with new decals and installation instructions. owner notification began august 29, 2002. owners who do not receive the free label and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Drum:Chamber

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses. insufficient torque on the arvin-meritor air brake chamber mounting nuts can allow the nuts to loosen over time.

Corrective Action

this condition could reduce braking of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will inspect the torque values on each brake chamber nut and tighten to specifications. owner notification began november 16, 2001. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-912-822-2242.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Diesel

Consequence of Defect

certain 1998 through 2002 blue bird all american, tc2000 school and transit buses, and commercial series buses equipped with cummins isb diesel engines. the fuel pump could fail to transfer fuel appropriately creating an engine stall condition.

Corrective Action

should the engine stall while the vehicle is in use, a possible vehicle crash could occur.

Recall Notes

customers will be notified by cummins to bring their vehicles to an authorized dealer to have the fuel lift pump replaced free of charge. for more information, customers may contact cummins at 1-800-diesels.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage

Consequence of Defect

on certain rear engine (a3re) school buses, the type and location of the fasteners used to retain the seat belt in the last row of seats does not conform to blue bird engineering specifications.

Corrective Action

this installation may not adequately retain seat belts in the event of a severe crash.

Recall Notes

blue bird will provide its distributors and owners the parts and instructions to install the correct fasteners free of charge. owner notification is expected to begin november 20, 2003. owners who do not receive the parts and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seats

Consequence of Defect

on certain school buses equipped with optional seat belts or seat belt øreadyø seats, some belts were installed with only two bolts rather than the required three (3) bolts.

Corrective Action

these seats could detach from the wall side attachment points in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.

Recall Notes

blue bird will furnish to distributors and owners, parts and instructions necessary to install the missing bolt free of charge. owner notification is expected to on november 3, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Power Train:Manual Transmission

Consequence of Defect

on certain school and transit buses equipped with allison 2000 series transmissions, the "range inhibited" indicator light on the dash was improperly installed and does not function.

Corrective Action

the operator will not be alerted that the transmission operation is being inhibited and that the range shifts being requested by the operator may not occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

distributors and owners will be instructed to remove the dash and activate the indicator "range inhibited" light according to instructions provided. owner notification began august 16, 2002. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control

Consequence of Defect

certain 2001 through 2005 all american, commercial series, and q-bus school and transit buses equipped with john deere 8.1 cng engines. the subject buses equipped with the john deere engines may surge inappropriately due to erractic operation of the air throttle if the engine is taken from full to zero load.

Corrective Action

unexpected engine surge could result in a vehicle crash, possibly resulting in personal injury.

Recall Notes

john deere will notify blue bird's customers and repair the engines free of charge. customers are being instructed to contact john deere at 1-800-jd-engine.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Engine And Engine Cooling

Consequence of Defect

certain 2002-2006 my blue bird all american school and transit buses, conventional school buses, and commercial series transit buses manufactured between december 21, 2002, and february 24, 2005. these buses are equipped with webasto coolant heaters, model dbw 2010, assembled with webasto burner tubes, p/n 303046/26533a manufactured between november 2002 and february 2005. the stainless steel burner tube is made out of a material that is not to specification and could fail prematurely.

Corrective Action

should the burner tube fail, the coolant heater could overheat, possibly resulting in a fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and replace the burner tubes free of charge. the recall began on march 31, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Battery

Consequence of Defect

certain 2001 through 2006 my blue bird all american, tc2000, and vision transit school buses manufactured between january 5, 2001, and july 15, 2005. these buses are equipped with a battery disconnect switch that has connections that may be loose on the battery switch studs creating the potential for the bus to shut down while in operation.

Corrective Action

should the bus shut down while in operation, a vehicle crash could occur.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its owners and instruct them on how to repair the switch. the recall began on october 19 , 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Other:School Bus Stop Arm Assembly

Consequence of Defect

this is not a safety recall in accordance with the safety act. however, it is deemed a safety improvement campaign by the agency. certain blue bird 2002 through 2006 my all american, conventional, minibird, microbird, vision, and tc2000 school buses originally sold in or currently registered in states other than the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north dakota, ohio, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming, and the district of columbia. in extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the sign in the open and closed positions may malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.

Corrective Action

should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian may be endangered by passing motorists should the motorist not stop at the correct location.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify all its customers of this campaign. for those buses operated in or near any of the states listed above, blue bird is encouraging the bus owners to obtain the replacement switch. for those buses operated in the warmer states, blue bird will replace the switch upon owner request. for those customers who request the remedy, blue bird will replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected. the safety improvement campaign began on august 12, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor

Consequence of Defect

on certain school and transit buses equipped with passenger seat belts with retractors, the cover halves for the retractable portion of the belt can separate completely and release the seat belt connector. if this occurs, one of the load bearing pins in the connector could separate from the connector and render the seat belt unusable. in the event of a crash, the seat occupant would not be properly restrained resulting in an injury. the seat belt supplier, am-safe, will provide a snap on "over-cover" to owners to prevent the seat belt cover from separating.

Corrective Action

if this occurs, one of the load bearing pins in the connector could separate from the connector and render the seat belt unusable. in the event of a crash, the seat occupant would not be properly restrained resulting in an injury.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided a snap-on "over-cover" to prevent the seat belt cover from separating. owner notification is expected to begin on or about september 27, 2002. owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

certain school buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, "school bus body joint strength." one or more of the bolts attaching the driver's platform to the floor structure was omitted.

Corrective Action

the rear of the driver's platform may not be properly retained in the event of a crash which could increase the risk of injury or death to passengers.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and inspect and repair the affected units. owner notification began on november 20, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Wiring

Consequence of Defect

on certain rear engine school and transit buses equipped with cummins isb engines, the wiring harness to the combustion air intake grid heater could chafe against engine components.

Corrective Action

the harness can wear through causing an electrical short in the grid heater power supply, increasing the risk of a fire.

Recall Notes

owners will be contacted and advised to add a bracket to support the harness away from the engine components. blue bird will provide a replacement harness for any harnesses found abraded and will reimburse the customer for the labor required to replace the harness. owner notification is expected to begin on or about september 29, 2002. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2002 Blue Bird All American

Component

Other:School Bus Stop Arm Assembly

Consequence of Defect

certain school buses originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: alaska, colorado, connecticut, delaware, idaho, illinois, indiana, iowa, kansas, kentucky, maine, maryland, massachusetts, michigan, minnesota, missouri, montana, nebraska, nevada, new hampshire, new jersey, new mexico, new york, north dakota, ohio, oregon, pennsylvania, rhode island, south dakota, tennessee, utah, vermont, virginia, washington, west virginia, wisconsin, wyoming, and the district of columbia. in extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the stop arm sign in the open and closed positions may malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.

Corrective Action

should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian may be endangered by passing vehicles should the motorist not stop at the correct location.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected free of charge. the recall began on august 12, 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment:Other:Labels

Consequence of Defect

certain transit buses fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle standard no. 101, "controls and displays." this standard requires specific labeling for "engine start" and "engine stop." the wording of the labels on these vehicles do not meet the requirements of the standard.

Corrective Action

the operator could place the engine switch in a position other than that intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with new decals and installation instructions. owner notification began august 29, 2002. owners who do not receive the free label and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Wiring

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with rear mounted engines. the 12-volt power supply cable(s) may be chaffed by hoses, harnesses, frame components, or clamps.

Corrective Action

this condition can result in power failure and/or risk of fire in the engine compartment.

Recall Notes

dealers will remove and inspect the 12-volt power cable(s) from the battery to the starter and, if necessary, will replace the cables. owner notification began july 30, 2001. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-912-822-2242.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Drum:Chamber

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses. insufficient torque on the arvin-meritor air brake chamber mounting nuts can allow the nuts to loosen over time.

Corrective Action

this condition could reduce braking of the vehicle, possibly resulting in a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will inspect the torque values on each brake chamber nut and tighten to specifications. owner notification began november 16, 2001. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-912-822-2242.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Diesel

Consequence of Defect

certain 1998 through 2002 blue bird all american, tc2000 school and transit buses, and commercial series buses equipped with cummins isb diesel engines. the fuel pump could fail to transfer fuel appropriately creating an engine stall condition.

Corrective Action

should the engine stall while the vehicle is in use, a possible vehicle crash could occur.

Recall Notes

customers will be notified by cummins to bring their vehicles to an authorized dealer to have the fuel lift pump replaced free of charge. for more information, customers may contact cummins at 1-800-diesels.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses. these buses could have improperly installed or missing pinch bolts in the steering shaft assemblies.

Corrective Action

this can result in disengagement of the steering slip shaft assembly and loss of steering.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with installation instructions and new replacement bolts and locking nuts for the steering shaft assemblies.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seat Belts:Front:Anchorage

Consequence of Defect

on certain rear engine (a3re) school buses, the type and location of the fasteners used to retain the seat belt in the last row of seats does not conform to blue bird engineering specifications.

Corrective Action

this installation may not adequately retain seat belts in the event of a severe crash.

Recall Notes

blue bird will provide its distributors and owners the parts and instructions to install the correct fasteners free of charge. owner notification is expected to begin november 20, 2003. owners who do not receive the parts and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seats

Consequence of Defect

on certain school buses equipped with optional seat belts or seat belt øreadyø seats, some belts were installed with only two bolts rather than the required three (3) bolts.

Corrective Action

these seats could detach from the wall side attachment points in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.

Recall Notes

blue bird will furnish to distributors and owners, parts and instructions necessary to install the missing bolt free of charge. owner notification is expected to on november 3, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Suspension

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school buses equipped with hendrickson rear air suspension. inadequate tightening of the 5/8" bolts on the rear air suspension hanger bolts and on rear axle torque arm axle seat studs.

Corrective Action

insufficient tightening permits movement between the components that could result in bolts and studs breaking, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the 5/8" grade 8-hanger bolts. in addition, axle spring seat fasteners will be checked for proper tightness and, if needed, tightened to specifications. owner notification began january 18, 2002. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Slack Adjusters

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with a combination spicer j230 rear axle, spring suspension, and crewson brunner automatic slack adjusters. the crewson brunner slack adjuster contacts a u-bolt mounting bracket when a combination of the listed components are installed. the combination does not allow for full extension of the slack adjuster when brakes are applied.

Corrective Action

this can cause a potential for reduced braking effort, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will install modified u-bolt brackets that will provide the needed clearance. owner notification began march 15, 2001. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-912-825-2021.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control

Consequence of Defect

certain 2001 through 2005 all american, commercial series, and q-bus school and transit buses equipped with john deere 8.1 cng engines. the subject buses equipped with the john deere engines may surge inappropriately due to erractic operation of the air throttle if the engine is taken from full to zero load.

Corrective Action

unexpected engine surge could result in a vehicle crash, possibly resulting in personal injury.

Recall Notes

john deere will notify blue bird's customers and repair the engines free of charge. customers are being instructed to contact john deere at 1-800-jd-engine.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Battery

Consequence of Defect

certain 2001 through 2006 my blue bird all american, tc2000, and vision transit school buses manufactured between january 5, 2001, and july 15, 2005. these buses are equipped with a battery disconnect switch that has connections that may be loose on the battery switch studs creating the potential for the bus to shut down while in operation.

Corrective Action

should the bus shut down while in operation, a vehicle crash could occur.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its owners and instruct them on how to repair the switch. the recall began on october 19 , 2005. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor

Consequence of Defect

on certain school and transit buses equipped with passenger seat belts with retractors, the cover halves for the retractable portion of the belt can separate completely and release the seat belt connector. if this occurs, one of the load bearing pins in the connector could separate from the connector and render the seat belt unusable. in the event of a crash, the seat occupant would not be properly restrained resulting in an injury. the seat belt supplier, am-safe, will provide a snap on "over-cover" to owners to prevent the seat belt cover from separating.

Corrective Action

if this occurs, one of the load bearing pins in the connector could separate from the connector and render the seat belt unusable. in the event of a crash, the seat occupant would not be properly restrained resulting in an injury.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided a snap-on "over-cover" to prevent the seat belt cover from separating. owner notification is expected to begin on or about september 27, 2002. owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Antilock

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: transit and school buses equipped with meritor wabco phase 1, d-version antilock brake system (abs), fail to comply to the requirements of fmvss no. 105, "hydraulic and electric brake systems." an internal diagnostic system in the abs may not detect an extreme wheel speed sensor air gap. such a condition could possibly occur during (1) original assembly or (2) subsequent wheel end service.

Corrective Action

failure of the electronic control unit to detect an extreme wheel speed sensor air gap can result in the loss of antilock braking function on the wheel(s) where the air gap exists, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

the abs ecu will be removed and replaced or the ecu will be reprogrammed.

2001 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

certain school buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, "school bus body joint strength." one or more of the bolts attaching the driver's platform to the floor structure was omitted.

Corrective Action

the rear of the driver's platform may not be properly retained in the event of a crash which could increase the risk of injury or death to passengers.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and inspect and repair the affected units. owner notification began on november 20, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment:Other:Labels

Consequence of Defect

certain transit buses fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle standard no. 101, "controls and displays." this standard requires specific labeling for "engine start" and "engine stop." the wording of the labels on these vehicles do not meet the requirements of the standard.

Corrective Action

the operator could place the engine switch in a position other than that intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with new decals and installation instructions. owner notification began august 29, 2002. owners who do not receive the free label and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Wiring

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with rear mounted engines. the 12-volt power supply cable(s) may be chaffed by hoses, harnesses, frame components, or clamps.

Corrective Action

this condition can result in power failure and/or risk of fire in the engine compartment.

Recall Notes

dealers will remove and inspect the 12-volt power cable(s) from the battery to the starter and, if necessary, will replace the cables. owner notification began july 30, 2001. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-912-822-2242.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with electronic engines and felsted electronic accelerator pedals. the return springs can break on the accelerator pedals that are equipped with stainless steel or electroplated music wire return springs.

Corrective Action

this condition could cause the pedal to go to full throttle if both return springs break, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

replacement accelerator pedals equipped with return springs manufactured of music wire with one additional coil on each spring and with an organic coating, eliminating electroplating will be installed.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Supply:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with bendix abs anti-lock braking system. the primary and secondary brake treadle valve air lines were installed incorrectly at the bendix r12dc relay valve.

Corrective Action

with the brake system installed incorrectly, future maintenance might be affected by this inconsistency, causing the brakes to be installed incorrect, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will correct the air line plumbing at the bendix r12dc relay valve.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal

Consequence of Defect

on certain school and transit buses equipped with caterpillar 3126e engines and felsted electronic pedal assemblies, an internal return spring on the throttle position sensor was incorrectly manufactured. the spring, which is too long, cuts a trace into the printed circuit board causing the sensor to fail.

Corrective Action

this will cause the engine to return to idle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the throttle position sensors. any chafed brake hoses will be replaced. owner notification began december 12, 2002. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Diesel

Consequence of Defect

certain 1998 through 2002 blue bird all american, tc2000 school and transit buses, and commercial series buses equipped with cummins isb diesel engines. the fuel pump could fail to transfer fuel appropriately creating an engine stall condition.

Corrective Action

should the engine stall while the vehicle is in use, a possible vehicle crash could occur.

Recall Notes

customers will be notified by cummins to bring their vehicles to an authorized dealer to have the fuel lift pump replaced free of charge. for more information, customers may contact cummins at 1-800-diesels.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses. these buses could have improperly installed or missing pinch bolts in the steering shaft assemblies.

Corrective Action

this can result in disengagement of the steering slip shaft assembly and loss of steering.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with installation instructions and new replacement bolts and locking nuts for the steering shaft assemblies.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: front engine school and transit buses. the power distribution unit (pdu) cables are inadequately supported or routed in close proximity to the steering pitman arm.

Corrective Action

the cable can chafe resulting in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with step by step repair instructions for re-routing the wires.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Suspension

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school buses equipped with hendrickson rear air suspension. inadequate tightening of the 5/8" bolts on the rear air suspension hanger bolts and on rear axle torque arm axle seat studs.

Corrective Action

insufficient tightening permits movement between the components that could result in bolts and studs breaking, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the 5/8" grade 8-hanger bolts. in addition, axle spring seat fasteners will be checked for proper tightness and, if needed, tightened to specifications. owner notification began january 18, 2002. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Slack Adjusters

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with a combination spicer j230 rear axle, spring suspension, and crewson brunner automatic slack adjusters. the crewson brunner slack adjuster contacts a u-bolt mounting bracket when a combination of the listed components are installed. the combination does not allow for full extension of the slack adjuster when brakes are applied.

Corrective Action

this can cause a potential for reduced braking effort, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will install modified u-bolt brackets that will provide the needed clearance. owner notification began march 15, 2001. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-912-825-2021.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with cummins isc engines. the wiring harness to the combustion air intake grid heater can chafe against the engine and wear through.

Corrective Action

this condition can cause an electrical short in the grid heater power supply.

Recall Notes

owners will be advised to re-route the original grid heater power supply harness. in addition, a clamp will be added to support the harness away from the engine components.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Seat Belts:Front:Retractor

Consequence of Defect

on certain school and transit buses equipped with passenger seat belts with retractors, the cover halves for the retractable portion of the belt can separate completely and release the seat belt connector. if this occurs, one of the load bearing pins in the connector could separate from the connector and render the seat belt unusable. in the event of a crash, the seat occupant would not be properly restrained resulting in an injury. the seat belt supplier, am-safe, will provide a snap on "over-cover" to owners to prevent the seat belt cover from separating.

Corrective Action

if this occurs, one of the load bearing pins in the connector could separate from the connector and render the seat belt unusable. in the event of a crash, the seat occupant would not be properly restrained resulting in an injury.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided a snap-on "over-cover" to prevent the seat belt cover from separating. owner notification is expected to begin on or about september 27, 2002. owners who do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Antilock

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: transit and school buses equipped with meritor wabco phase 1, d-version antilock brake system (abs), fail to comply to the requirements of fmvss no. 105, "hydraulic and electric brake systems." an internal diagnostic system in the abs may not detect an extreme wheel speed sensor air gap. such a condition could possibly occur during (1) original assembly or (2) subsequent wheel end service.

Corrective Action

failure of the electronic control unit to detect an extreme wheel speed sensor air gap can result in the loss of antilock braking function on the wheel(s) where the air gap exists, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

the abs ecu will be removed and replaced or the ecu will be reprogrammed.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with bendix air brakes. bendix changed the internal design of the qr1c relay valve by adding a hole in the internal diaphragm. when the hole in the diaphragm aligns with the hole in the valve body, the brake application time increases.

Corrective Action

under certain conditions, such as parked on an incline, driver activates the parking brake but removes foot from the threadle valve, the bus could roll before the parking brake is fully engaged.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the diaphragms with holes with solid diaphragms for the qr1c valves.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

certain school buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, "school bus body joint strength." one or more of the bolts attaching the driver's platform to the floor structure was omitted.

Corrective Action

the rear of the driver's platform may not be properly retained in the event of a crash which could increase the risk of injury or death to passengers.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and inspect and repair the affected units. owner notification began on november 20, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

2000 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Antilock

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses built with bendix air abs with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu), there have been reports of unwanted abs activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed abs wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.

Corrective Action

this condition could cause the abs ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. this could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the abs ecu.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment:Other:Labels

Consequence of Defect

certain transit buses fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle standard no. 101, "controls and displays." this standard requires specific labeling for "engine start" and "engine stop." the wording of the labels on these vehicles do not meet the requirements of the standard.

Corrective Action

the operator could place the engine switch in a position other than that intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with new decals and installation instructions. owner notification began august 29, 2002. owners who do not receive the free label and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Wiring

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with rear mounted engines. the 12-volt power supply cable(s) may be chaffed by hoses, harnesses, frame components, or clamps.

Corrective Action

this condition can result in power failure and/or risk of fire in the engine compartment.

Recall Notes

dealers will remove and inspect the 12-volt power cable(s) from the battery to the starter and, if necessary, will replace the cables. owner notification began july 30, 2001. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-912-822-2242.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Linkages:Tie Rod Assembly

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses and motor home chassis equipped with tie rod assemblies manufactured by trw. the suspect tie rods contain 24-dl model ball sockets. certain of the tie rod ball-socket bearings have a below-specification case depth and/or hardness, which can lead to premature wear of the socket.

Corrective Action

if this condition occurs, the driver can lose partial control of the right front wheel, possibly resulting in a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the defective ball sockets and/or drag links. owner notification began march 30, 2001. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-912-822-2242 or trw customer service at 1-866-280-3287.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control:Accelerator Pedal

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with electronic engines and felsted electronic accelerator pedals. the return springs can break on the accelerator pedals that are equipped with stainless steel or electroplated music wire return springs.

Corrective Action

this condition could cause the pedal to go to full throttle if both return springs break, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

replacement accelerator pedals equipped with return springs manufactured of music wire with one additional coil on each spring and with an organic coating, eliminating electroplating will be installed.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Supply:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with bendix abs anti-lock braking system. the primary and secondary brake treadle valve air lines were installed incorrectly at the bendix r12dc relay valve.

Corrective Action

with the brake system installed incorrectly, future maintenance might be affected by this inconsistency, causing the brakes to be installed incorrect, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will correct the air line plumbing at the bendix r12dc relay valve.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Diesel

Consequence of Defect

certain 1998 through 2002 blue bird all american, tc2000 school and transit buses, and commercial series buses equipped with cummins isb diesel engines. the fuel pump could fail to transfer fuel appropriately creating an engine stall condition.

Corrective Action

should the engine stall while the vehicle is in use, a possible vehicle crash could occur.

Recall Notes

customers will be notified by cummins to bring their vehicles to an authorized dealer to have the fuel lift pump replaced free of charge. for more information, customers may contact cummins at 1-800-diesels.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Gear Box (Other Than Rack And Pinion)

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses. these buses could have improperly installed or missing pinch bolts in the steering shaft assemblies.

Corrective Action

this can result in disengagement of the steering slip shaft assembly and loss of steering.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with installation instructions and new replacement bolts and locking nuts for the steering shaft assemblies.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: front engine school and transit buses. the power distribution unit (pdu) cables are inadequately supported or routed in close proximity to the steering pitman arm.

Corrective Action

the cable can chafe resulting in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with step by step repair instructions for re-routing the wires.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Suspension

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school buses equipped with hendrickson rear air suspension. inadequate tightening of the 5/8" bolts on the rear air suspension hanger bolts and on rear axle torque arm axle seat studs.

Corrective Action

insufficient tightening permits movement between the components that could result in bolts and studs breaking, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the 5/8" grade 8-hanger bolts. in addition, axle spring seat fasteners will be checked for proper tightness and, if needed, tightened to specifications. owner notification began january 18, 2002. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Wiring:Front Underhood

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with cummins isc engines. the wiring harness to the combustion air intake grid heater can chafe against the engine and wear through.

Corrective Action

this condition can cause an electrical short in the grid heater power supply.

Recall Notes

owners will be advised to re-route the original grid heater power supply harness. in addition, a clamp will be added to support the harness away from the engine components.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Consequence of Defect

on certain school and transit buses equipped with cummins isb 6 cylinder engines, the lower alternator support brace or mounting hardware can loosen or break which will allow the alternator to drop onto the engine.

Corrective Action

in this event, the electrical wiring harness may be damaged and the possibility of fire may exist.

Recall Notes

cummins will notify customers and replace the upper and lower alternator support brackets free of charge. owners who take their vehicle to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact cummins at 1-800-343-7357 or blue bird at 478-822-2242.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Antilock

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: transit and school buses equipped with meritor wabco phase 1, d-version antilock brake system (abs), fail to comply to the requirements of fmvss no. 105, "hydraulic and electric brake systems." an internal diagnostic system in the abs may not detect an extreme wheel speed sensor air gap. such a condition could possibly occur during (1) original assembly or (2) subsequent wheel end service.

Corrective Action

failure of the electronic control unit to detect an extreme wheel speed sensor air gap can result in the loss of antilock braking function on the wheel(s) where the air gap exists, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

the abs ecu will be removed and replaced or the ecu will be reprogrammed.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with bendix air brakes. bendix changed the internal design of the qr1c relay valve by adding a hole in the internal diaphragm. when the hole in the diaphragm aligns with the hole in the valve body, the brake application time increases.

Corrective Action

under certain conditions, such as parked on an incline, driver activates the parking brake but removes foot from the threadle valve, the bus could roll before the parking brake is fully engaged.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the diaphragms with holes with solid diaphragms for the qr1c valves.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Ignition:Switch

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: front engine school buses equipped with allison world transmissions. these buses do not fully comply with the requirements of fmvss no. 102, "transmission, shift lever sequence, starter interlock, and transmission braking effect." the neutral safety switch is wired incorrectly allowing the starter to engage when the ignition is turned "on," followed by the transmission selector being placed in forward or reverse positions, and then the ignition turned to the "start" position.

Corrective Action

this condition would cause the engine to star and run if the ignition was turned to the "start" position, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with parts and instructions necessary to modify the engine starter/transmission shift electrical circuitry. if an owner so desires, a dealer can perform the modification for them.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

certain school buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, "school bus body joint strength." one or more of the bolts attaching the driver's platform to the floor structure was omitted.

Corrective Action

the rear of the driver's platform may not be properly retained in the event of a crash which could increase the risk of injury or death to passengers.

Recall Notes

blue bird will notify its customers and inspect and repair the affected units. owner notification began on november 20, 2003. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

1999 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Antilock

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses built with bendix air abs with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu), there have been reports of unwanted abs activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed abs wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.

Corrective Action

this condition could cause the abs ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. this could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the abs ecu.

1998 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment:Other:Labels

Consequence of Defect

certain transit buses fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle standard no. 101, "controls and displays." this standard requires specific labeling for "engine start" and "engine stop." the wording of the labels on these vehicles do not meet the requirements of the standard.

Corrective Action

the operator could place the engine switch in a position other than that intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with new decals and installation instructions. owner notification began august 29, 2002. owners who do not receive the free label and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

1998 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Wiring

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with rear mounted engines. the 12-volt power supply cable(s) may be chaffed by hoses, harnesses, frame components, or clamps.

Corrective Action

this condition can result in power failure and/or risk of fire in the engine compartment.

Recall Notes

dealers will remove and inspect the 12-volt power cable(s) from the battery to the starter and, if necessary, will replace the cables. owner notification began july 30, 2001. owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-912-822-2242.

1998 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Supply:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with bendix abs anti-lock braking system. the primary and secondary brake treadle valve air lines were installed incorrectly at the bendix r12dc relay valve.

Corrective Action

with the brake system installed incorrectly, future maintenance might be affected by this inconsistency, causing the brakes to be installed incorrect, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will correct the air line plumbing at the bendix r12dc relay valve.

1998 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Diesel

Consequence of Defect

certain 1998 through 2002 blue bird all american, tc2000 school and transit buses, and commercial series buses equipped with cummins isb diesel engines. the fuel pump could fail to transfer fuel appropriately creating an engine stall condition.

Corrective Action

should the engine stall while the vehicle is in use, a possible vehicle crash could occur.

Recall Notes

customers will be notified by cummins to bring their vehicles to an authorized dealer to have the fuel lift pump replaced free of charge. for more information, customers may contact cummins at 1-800-diesels.

1998 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: front engine school and transit buses. the power distribution unit (pdu) cables are inadequately supported or routed in close proximity to the steering pitman arm.

Corrective Action

the cable can chafe resulting in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with step by step repair instructions for re-routing the wires.

1998 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Alternator/Generator/Regulator

Consequence of Defect

on certain school and transit buses equipped with cummins isb 6 cylinder engines, the lower alternator support brace or mounting hardware can loosen or break which will allow the alternator to drop onto the engine.

Corrective Action

in this event, the electrical wiring harness may be damaged and the possibility of fire may exist.

Recall Notes

cummins will notify customers and replace the upper and lower alternator support brackets free of charge. owners who take their vehicle to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact cummins at 1-800-343-7357 or blue bird at 478-822-2242.

1998 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with bendix air brakes. bendix changed the internal design of the qr1c relay valve by adding a hole in the internal diaphragm. when the hole in the diaphragm aligns with the hole in the valve body, the brake application time increases.

Corrective Action

under certain conditions, such as parked on an incline, driver activates the parking brake but removes foot from the threadle valve, the bus could roll before the parking brake is fully engaged.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the diaphragms with holes with solid diaphragms for the qr1c valves.

1998 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Antilock

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses built with bendix air abs with an ec-17 1030r electronic control unit (ecu), there have been reports of unwanted abs activation at low speeds caused by 1) chafed abs wheel speed sensor wires on rotating parts or 2) a damaged component at the wheel end that generates a certain type of erratic sensor signal.

Corrective Action

this condition could cause the abs ecu to exhaust the air at the air brake modulators for one or more of the wheels. this could result in extended braking distances and a possible crash.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the abs ecu.

1998 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: transit and school buses. movement of the hand throttle cable in the accelerator bracket rubs a groove in the bracket. the hand throttle cable can become wedged in this groove preventing the accelerator from returning to the idle position.

Corrective Action

the throttle cable would not return to the idle position, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be contacted and advised to disconnect the hand throttle cable until replacement parts are available.

1997 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment:Other:Labels

Consequence of Defect

certain transit buses fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle standard no. 101, "controls and displays." this standard requires specific labeling for "engine start" and "engine stop." the wording of the labels on these vehicles do not meet the requirements of the standard.

Corrective Action

the operator could place the engine switch in a position other than that intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with new decals and installation instructions. owner notification began august 29, 2002. owners who do not receive the free label and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

1997 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with bendix air brakes. bendix changed the internal design of the qr1c relay valve by adding a hole in the internal diaphragm. when the hole in the diaphragm aligns with the hole in the valve body, the brake application time increases.

Corrective Action

under certain conditions, such as parked on an incline, driver activates the parking brake but removes foot from the threadle valve, the bus could roll before the parking brake is fully engaged.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the diaphragms with holes with solid diaphragms for the qr1c valves.

1997 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: transit and school buses. movement of the hand throttle cable in the accelerator bracket rubs a groove in the bracket. the hand throttle cable can become wedged in this groove preventing the accelerator from returning to the idle position.

Corrective Action

the throttle cable would not return to the idle position, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be contacted and advised to disconnect the hand throttle cable until replacement parts are available.

1996 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment:Other:Labels

Consequence of Defect

certain transit buses fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle standard no. 101, "controls and displays." this standard requires specific labeling for "engine start" and "engine stop." the wording of the labels on these vehicles do not meet the requirements of the standard.

Corrective Action

the operator could place the engine switch in a position other than that intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with new decals and installation instructions. owner notification began august 29, 2002. owners who do not receive the free label and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

1996 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections

Consequence of Defect

the power steering hose with a crimped end fitting was improperly manufactured.

Corrective Action

the end fitting can blow-off resulting in a loss of power assisted steering causing insufficient steering control which increases the potential for a vehicle accident.

Recall Notes

owners are requested to inspect the power steering hose for the suspect hoses (identifiable by date code) and replace hoses as necessary.

1996 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1996 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the forward handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death.

Recall Notes

owners will be directed to remove all forward handrails. provisions will be made for those owners operating in states which mandate a forward handrail that a replacement handrail will be provided.

1996 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

the floor line handrail bracket can expand during use and create an opening which could entrap coat strings, etc. and other articles of clothing.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual could be dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the flat split floor line bracket with a round tubular bracket.

1996 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: transit and school buses. movement of the hand throttle cable in the accelerator bracket rubs a groove in the bracket. the hand throttle cable can become wedged in this groove preventing the accelerator from returning to the idle position.

Corrective Action

the throttle cable would not return to the idle position, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be contacted and advised to disconnect the hand throttle cable until replacement parts are available.

1995 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment:Other:Labels

Consequence of Defect

certain transit buses fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle standard no. 101, "controls and displays." this standard requires specific labeling for "engine start" and "engine stop." the wording of the labels on these vehicles do not meet the requirements of the standard.

Corrective Action

the operator could place the engine switch in a position other than that intended, increasing the risk of a crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be provided with new decals and installation instructions. owner notification began august 29, 2002. owners who do not receive the free label and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242.

1995 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1995 Blue Bird All American

Component

Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear

Consequence of Defect

these vehicles could have a latch which scrapes an aluminum trim piece increasing the force required to open. this does not comply with fmvss no. 217, "bus window retention and release."

Corrective Action

consequence of non-compliance: in the case of an emergency, an occupant may not be able to open the window to use as an emergency exit.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a new cam lock plate.

1995 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the forward handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death.

Recall Notes

owners will be directed to remove all forward handrails. provisions will be made for those owners operating in states which mandate a forward handrail that a replacement handrail will be provided.

1995 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1995 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

the floor line handrail bracket can expand during use and create an opening which could entrap coat strings, etc. and other articles of clothing.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual could be dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the flat split floor line bracket with a round tubular bracket.

1995 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

an improper mix of adhesive was applied to the interior side panel joints resulting in the buses failing to conform to the joint strength requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, "school bus body joint strength.":

Corrective Action

consequence of non-compliance: in the event of a collision, the side panel of the bus may not protect the occupants at the level required fmvss no. 221

Recall Notes

dealers will inspect and repair with correct adhesive if the sealer was not cured properly.

1995 Blue Bird All American

Component

Air Bags:Knee Bolster

Consequence of Defect

the aisle side styrofoam knee pads on the subject barriers are 11" wide and not 14.5" as required by fmvss no. 222, "school bus passenger seating and crash protection."

Corrective Action

consequence of non-compliance: this condition could increase the potential for injury in a vehicle accident.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the incorrect pad with the correct 14.5" knee pad.

1995 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Linkages

Consequence of Defect

quench cracks occurred in the pitman arm pinch bolt during the bolt manufacturing process, causing a weakness in these bolts.

Corrective Action

these cracks can cause the bolts to fracture resulting in a loss of steering control and increasing the potential for a vehicle crash.

Recall Notes

blue bird will provide replacement bolts for all affected units.

1995 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: transit and school buses. movement of the hand throttle cable in the accelerator bracket rubs a groove in the bracket. the hand throttle cable can become wedged in this groove preventing the accelerator from returning to the idle position.

Corrective Action

the throttle cable would not return to the idle position, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be contacted and advised to disconnect the hand throttle cable until replacement parts are available.

1995 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

these buses are equipped with an entrance door handrail off set brace attached to the interior wall and the handrail. the attachment point at the wall is incorrectly positioned permitting the entrapment of the "connecticut nut/string test device" between the upper edge of the brace and the lower edge of the seat ledge. passenger's clothing could unknowingly become caught in the handrails at the bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will inspect and relocate the bracket as necessary. owners can inspect and relocate the bracket is so desired.

1994 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Pressure Relief Devices

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with compressed natural gas engines (cng). the original pressure relief devices may vent unexpectedly.

Corrective Action

compressed natural gas leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire or explosion.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the pressure relief devices.

1994 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Supply:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Consequence of Defect

air system blockage in the air dryer occurs degrading the moisture removing capabilities of the dryer when the vehicle is operated in a cold environment and moisture accumulates and freezes in the air dryer or in the line between the dryer and the air system reservoir. the air dryer can become overpressurized causing the air dryer cartridge to separate from the mounting base.

Corrective Action

if the air dryer separates from the base, the cartridgecan separate sufficiently enough to cause personal injury or property damage.

Recall Notes

dealers will equip air systems with a pressure relief valve to be located between the compressor and the air dryer. this pressure relief valve is intended to vent if excessive pressure develops in the air dryer.

1994 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1994 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the forward handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death.

Recall Notes

owners will be directed to remove all forward handrails. provisions will be made for those owners operating in states which mandate a forward handrail that a replacement handrail will be provided.

1994 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1994 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

the floor line handrail bracket can expand during use and create an opening which could entrap coat strings, etc. and other articles of clothing.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual could be dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the flat split floor line bracket with a round tubular bracket.

1994 Blue Bird All American

Component

Air Bags:Knee Bolster

Consequence of Defect

the aisle side styrofoam knee pads on the subject barriers are 11" wide and not 14.5" as required by fmvss no. 222, "school bus passenger seating and crash protection."

Corrective Action

consequence of non-compliance: this condition could increase the potential for injury in a vehicle accident.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the incorrect pad with the correct 14.5" knee pad.

1994 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Linkages

Consequence of Defect

quench cracks occurred in the pitman arm pinch bolt during the bolt manufacturing process, causing a weakness in these bolts.

Corrective Action

these cracks can cause the bolts to fracture resulting in a loss of steering control and increasing the potential for a vehicle crash.

Recall Notes

blue bird will provide replacement bolts for all affected units.

1994 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: transit and school buses. movement of the hand throttle cable in the accelerator bracket rubs a groove in the bracket. the hand throttle cable can become wedged in this groove preventing the accelerator from returning to the idle position.

Corrective Action

the throttle cable would not return to the idle position, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be contacted and advised to disconnect the hand throttle cable until replacement parts are available.

1993 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Pressure Relief Devices

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with compressed natural gas engines (cng). the original pressure relief devices may vent unexpectedly.

Corrective Action

compressed natural gas leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire or explosion.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the pressure relief devices.

1993 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1993 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the forward handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death.

Recall Notes

owners will be directed to remove all forward handrails. provisions will be made for those owners operating in states which mandate a forward handrail that a replacement handrail will be provided.

1993 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1993 Blue Bird All American

Component

Air Bags:Knee Bolster

Consequence of Defect

the aisle side styrofoam knee pads on the subject barriers are 11" wide and not 14.5" as required by fmvss no. 222, "school bus passenger seating and crash protection."

Corrective Action

consequence of non-compliance: this condition could increase the potential for injury in a vehicle accident.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the incorrect pad with the correct 14.5" knee pad.

1993 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections

Consequence of Defect

the hydraulic hoses which interconnect with the hydraulic pump, hydraulic radiator fan motor and power steering gear have an undersized wire mesh core which results in an improper hose end crimp. the improper crimp can cause a leak, emptying the power steering hydraulic fluid reservoir, resulting in loss of power steering assist.

Corrective Action

complete loss of power steering assist can cause loss ofvehicle control and result in an accident.

Recall Notes

owners are being asked to inspect hose for the date code 3-1q93 which is embossed on the hose cover every 18 inches. replacement hoses will be provided. owners can handle the repair themselves or have a blue bird distributor assist them. owners will be reimbursed for the labor charges following completion of the recall work.

1993 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: transit and school buses. movement of the hand throttle cable in the accelerator bracket rubs a groove in the bracket. the hand throttle cable can become wedged in this groove preventing the accelerator from returning to the idle position.

Corrective Action

the throttle cable would not return to the idle position, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be contacted and advised to disconnect the hand throttle cable until replacement parts are available.

1992 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Other:Storage:Tank Assembly:Pressure Relief Devices

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with compressed natural gas engines (cng). the original pressure relief devices may vent unexpectedly.

Corrective Action

compressed natural gas leakage in the presence of an ignition source could result in a fire or explosion.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the pressure relief devices.

1992 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1992 Blue Bird All American

Component

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Consequence of Defect

the electric vandal lock center plunger can tap the control lock pin, of the outward opening door, which causes the door lock to become disengaged.

Corrective Action

the disengaged door lock allows the door to open withoutprior warning and endanger occupants near the door if the vehicle is in motion.

Recall Notes

modify the vandal door locks with blue bird supplied kits.

1992 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the forward handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death.

Recall Notes

owners will be directed to remove all forward handrails. provisions will be made for those owners operating in states which mandate a forward handrail that a replacement handrail will be provided.

1992 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1992 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in seriousinjury or death.

Recall Notes

replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.

1992 Blue Bird All American

Component

Air Bags:Knee Bolster

Consequence of Defect

the aisle side styrofoam knee pads on the subject barriers are 11" wide and not 14.5" as required by fmvss no. 222, "school bus passenger seating and crash protection."

Corrective Action

consequence of non-compliance: this condition could increase the potential for injury in a vehicle accident.

Recall Notes

dealers will replace the incorrect pad with the correct 14.5" knee pad.

1992 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Fuses And Circuit Breakers

Consequence of Defect

a 150 amp circuit breaker, option 4362, has been wired in parallel with a standard equipment circuit, thereby not providing the required protection.

Corrective Action

in the event of a major short-circuit, inadequate circuitprotection could result in a fire in the rear engine compartment.

Recall Notes

the standard equipment circuit must be removed.

1992 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: transit and school buses. movement of the hand throttle cable in the accelerator bracket rubs a groove in the bracket. the hand throttle cable can become wedged in this groove preventing the accelerator from returning to the idle position.

Corrective Action

the throttle cable would not return to the idle position, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be contacted and advised to disconnect the hand throttle cable until replacement parts are available.

1991 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1991 Blue Bird All-American

Component

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Consequence of Defect

the electric vandal lock center plunger can tap the control lock pin, of the outward opening door, which causes the door lock to become disengaged.

Corrective Action

the disengaged door lock allows the door to open withoutprior warning and endanger occupants near the door if the vehicle is in motion.

Recall Notes

modify the vandal door locks with blue bird supplied kits.

1991 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the forward handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death.

Recall Notes

owners will be directed to remove all forward handrails. provisions will be made for those owners operating in states which mandate a forward handrail that a replacement handrail will be provided.

1991 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1991 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in seriousinjury or death.

Recall Notes

replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.

1991 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Fuses And Circuit Breakers

Consequence of Defect

a 150 amp circuit breaker, option 4362, has been wired in parallel with a standard equipment circuit, thereby not providing the required protection.

Corrective Action

in the event of a major short-circuit, inadequate circuitprotection could result in a fire in the rear engine compartment.

Recall Notes

the standard equipment circuit must be removed.

1991 Blue Bird All American

Component

Vehicle Speed Control

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: transit and school buses. movement of the hand throttle cable in the accelerator bracket rubs a groove in the bracket. the hand throttle cable can become wedged in this groove preventing the accelerator from returning to the idle position.

Corrective Action

the throttle cable would not return to the idle position, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Recall Notes

owners will be contacted and advised to disconnect the hand throttle cable until replacement parts are available.

1991 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections

Consequence of Defect

the steel braiding on the power steering hose may abrade the battery cable.

Corrective Action

abrasion of the battery cable will eventually cause ashort circuit and may result in an electrical fire in the engine compartment.

Recall Notes

reroute the power steering hoses and secure the battery cables to prevent movement.

1991 Blue Bird All American

Component

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Consequence of Defect

the front door control latch system fails due to breakage of the latch pin.

Corrective Action

if the failure occurs, the front door cannot be opened,entrapping the passengers in the bus and in case of an emergency, passengerscould not use the front door to exit the bus.

Recall Notes

the lock pin will be replaced on these vehicles. owners can obtain a modification kit from blue bird or if they prefer, a dealer will perform the remedy for them.

1990 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1990 Blue Bird All American

Component

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Consequence of Defect

the electric vandal lock center plunger can tap the control lock pin, of the outward opening door, which causes the door lock to become disengaged.

Corrective Action

the disengaged door lock allows the door to open withoutprior warning and endanger occupants near the door if the vehicle is in motion.

Recall Notes

modify the vandal door locks with blue bird supplied kits.

1990 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the forward handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death.

Recall Notes

owners will be directed to remove all forward handrails. provisions will be made for those owners operating in states which mandate a forward handrail that a replacement handrail will be provided.

1990 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1990 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in seriousinjury or death.

Recall Notes

replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.

1990 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Wheel And Handle Bar

Consequence of Defect

lock pins in steering wheel and hub assembly my shear off, allowing steering wheel to spin.

Corrective Action

this could cause loss of steering control that couldresult in an accident.

Recall Notes

repair using a positive locking method.

1990 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Fuses And Circuit Breakers

Consequence of Defect

a 150 amp circuit breaker, option 4362, has been wired in parallel with a standard equipment circuit, thereby not providing the required protection.

Corrective Action

in the event of a major short-circuit, inadequate circuitprotection could result in a fire in the rear engine compartment.

Recall Notes

the standard equipment circuit must be removed.

1990 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections

Consequence of Defect

the steel braiding on the power steering hose may abrade the battery cable.

Corrective Action

abrasion of the battery cable will eventually cause ashort circuit and may result in an electrical fire in the engine compartment.

Recall Notes

reroute the power steering hoses and secure the battery cables to prevent movement.

1990 Blue Bird All American

Component

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Consequence of Defect

the front door control latch system fails due to breakage of the latch pin.

Corrective Action

if the failure occurs, the front door cannot be opened,entrapping the passengers in the bus and in case of an emergency, passengerscould not use the front door to exit the bus.

Recall Notes

the lock pin will be replaced on these vehicles. owners can obtain a modification kit from blue bird or if they prefer, a dealer will perform the remedy for them.

1989 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1989 Blue Bird All-American

Component

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Consequence of Defect

the electric vandal lock center plunger can tap the control lock pin, of the outward opening door, which causes the door lock to become disengaged.

Corrective Action

the disengaged door lock allows the door to open withoutprior warning and endanger occupants near the door if the vehicle is in motion.

Recall Notes

modify the vandal door locks with blue bird supplied kits.

1989 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the forward handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death.

Recall Notes

owners will be directed to remove all forward handrails. provisions will be made for those owners operating in states which mandate a forward handrail that a replacement handrail will be provided.

1989 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1989 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in seriousinjury or death.

Recall Notes

replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.

1989 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Wheel And Handle Bar

Consequence of Defect

lock pins in steering wheel and hub assembly my shear off, allowing steering wheel to spin.

Corrective Action

this could cause loss of steering control that couldresult in an accident.

Recall Notes

repair using a positive locking method.

1989 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Fuses And Circuit Breakers

Consequence of Defect

a 150 amp circuit breaker, option 4362, has been wired in parallel with a standard equipment circuit, thereby not providing the required protection.

Corrective Action

in the event of a major short-circuit, inadequate circuitprotection could result in a fire in the rear engine compartment.

Recall Notes

the standard equipment circuit must be removed.

1989 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections

Consequence of Defect

the steel braiding on the power steering hose may abrade the battery cable.

Corrective Action

abrasion of the battery cable will eventually cause ashort circuit and may result in an electrical fire in the engine compartment.

Recall Notes

reroute the power steering hoses and secure the battery cables to prevent movement.

1989 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Wheel And Handle Bar

Consequence of Defect

loose retaining nut on steering wheel could cause the steering wheel to feel loose.

Corrective Action

this could adversely affect steering control withpotential for an accident.

Recall Notes

torque retaining nut to specification and apply locktite.

1989 Blue Bird All American

Component

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Consequence of Defect

the front door control latch system fails due to breakage of the latch pin.

Corrective Action

if the failure occurs, the front door cannot be opened,entrapping the passengers in the bus and in case of an emergency, passengerscould not use the front door to exit the bus.

Recall Notes

the lock pin will be replaced on these vehicles. owners can obtain a modification kit from blue bird or if they prefer, a dealer will perform the remedy for them.

1988 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1988 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the forward handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death.

Recall Notes

owners will be directed to remove all forward handrails. provisions will be made for those owners operating in states which mandate a forward handrail that a replacement handrail will be provided.

1988 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1988 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in seriousinjury or death.

Recall Notes

replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.

1988 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Wheel And Handle Bar

Consequence of Defect

lock pins in steering wheel and hub assembly my shear off, allowing steering wheel to spin.

Corrective Action

this could cause loss of steering control that couldresult in an accident.

Recall Notes

repair using a positive locking method.

1988 Blue Bird All American

Component

Electrical System:Fuses And Circuit Breakers

Consequence of Defect

a 150 amp circuit breaker, option 4362, has been wired in parallel with a standard equipment circuit, thereby not providing the required protection.

Corrective Action

in the event of a major short-circuit, inadequate circuitprotection could result in a fire in the rear engine compartment.

Recall Notes

the standard equipment circuit must be removed.

1988 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections

Consequence of Defect

the steel braiding on the power steering hose may abrade the battery cable.

Corrective Action

abrasion of the battery cable will eventually cause ashort circuit and may result in an electrical fire in the engine compartment.

Recall Notes

reroute the power steering hoses and secure the battery cables to prevent movement.

1988 Blue Bird All American

Component

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Consequence of Defect

the front door control latch system fails due to breakage of the latch pin.

Corrective Action

if the failure occurs, the front door cannot be opened,entrapping the passengers in the bus and in case of an emergency, passengerscould not use the front door to exit the bus.

Recall Notes

the lock pin will be replaced on these vehicles. owners can obtain a modification kit from blue bird or if they prefer, a dealer will perform the remedy for them.

1987 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1987 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1987 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in seriousinjury or death.

Recall Notes

replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.

1987 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections

Consequence of Defect

the steel braiding on the power steering hose may abrade the battery cable.

Corrective Action

abrasion of the battery cable will eventually cause ashort circuit and may result in an electrical fire in the engine compartment.

Recall Notes

reroute the power steering hoses and secure the battery cables to prevent movement.

1987 Blue Bird All American

Component

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Consequence of Defect

the front door control latch system fails due to breakage of the latch pin.

Corrective Action

if the failure occurs, the front door cannot be opened,entrapping the passengers in the bus and in case of an emergency, passengerscould not use the front door to exit the bus.

Recall Notes

the lock pin will be replaced on these vehicles. owners can obtain a modification kit from blue bird or if they prefer, a dealer will perform the remedy for them.

1986 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1986 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1986 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in seriousinjury or death.

Recall Notes

replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.

1986 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist:Hose, Piping, And Connections

Consequence of Defect

the steel braiding on the power steering hose may abrade the battery cable.

Corrective Action

abrasion of the battery cable will eventually cause ashort circuit and may result in an electrical fire in the engine compartment.

Recall Notes

reroute the power steering hoses and secure the battery cables to prevent movement.

1986 Blue Bird All American

Component

Latches/Locks/Linkages:Doors:Latch

Consequence of Defect

the front door control latch system fails due to breakage of the latch pin.

Corrective Action

if the failure occurs, the front door cannot be opened,entrapping the passengers in the bus and in case of an emergency, passengerscould not use the front door to exit the bus.

Recall Notes

the lock pin will be replaced on these vehicles. owners can obtain a modification kit from blue bird or if they prefer, a dealer will perform the remedy for them.

1985 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1985 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1985 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in seriousinjury or death.

Recall Notes

replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.

1984 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1984 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1984 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in seriousinjury or death.

Recall Notes

replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.

1984 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Drum:Drum

Consequence of Defect

under extreme conditions, one or both rear brake drums may unexpectedly crack, creating an unbalanced braking condition.

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

defective brake drums will be replaced, and any labor, and shipping/handling expenses will be reimbursed by the manufacturer.

1983 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1983 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1983 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in seriousinjury or death.

Recall Notes

replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.

1982 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1982 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Consequence of Defect

due to substandard rubber products used in producing spring brake hoses installed on certain vehicles, the hose could rupture causing the loss of service brakes on the affected front wheel.

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

dealer will supply two hoses, with instructions, for replacement by owner. labor charges will be reimbursed.

1982 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Wheel And Handle Bar

Consequence of Defect

an imperfectly machined part may have been used in the steering column.

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

the dealer will inspect to see if coupling is defective and replace it if necessary, free of charge.

1982 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1982 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in seriousinjury or death.

Recall Notes

replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.

1981 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1981 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Consequence of Defect

due to substandard rubber products used in producing spring brake hoses installed on certain vehicles, the hose could rupture causing the loss of service brakes on the affected front wheel.

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

dealer will supply two hoses, with instructions, for replacement by owner. labor charges will be reimbursed.

1981 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1981 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in seriousinjury or death.

Recall Notes

replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.

1980 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1980 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result inserious injury or death.

Recall Notes

dealers will install a set screw to the metal clamp which retains the intermediate handrail. a high impact molded plastic "clam shell" will be placed over each end of the intermediate handrail completely covering the clamp and eliminating all catch-points. the flange of the existing floor line bracket will be crimped securing the vertical section of the primary tublar handrail at the floor line.

1980 Blue Bird All American

Component

Structure:Body

Consequence of Defect

passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

Corrective Action

when a passenger's clothing becomes caught in thehandrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, theindividual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in seriousinjury or death.

Recall Notes

replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from becoming caught.

1979 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1978 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1977 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly

Consequence of Defect

these buses fail to comply with fmvss no. 301, "fuel system integrity."

Corrective Action

in the event of a vehicle crash, fuel spillage can occur increasing the risk of a vehicle fire.

Recall Notes

blue bird is distributing modification kits which includes new fasteners for owner or dealer installation.

1977 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting

Consequence of Defect

the fuel tank strap ends on the involved vehicles may fail due to premature wear. fuel tank strap end failure would allow the fuel tank to move relative to the fuel tank attachment brackets, resulting in fuel line damage and fuel leakage. the fuel tank could also drop to the ground.

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

owner will be sent new straps and nuts along with instructions for installation and has the option of installing it him/herself or having it done by the dealer, free of charge.

1976 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment:Other:Labels

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1976 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Storage:Tank Assembly:Mounting

Consequence of Defect

the fuel tank strap ends on the involved vehicles may fail due to premature wear. fuel tank strap end failure would allow the fuel tank to move relative to the fuel tank attachment brackets, resulting in fuel line damage and fuel leakage. the fuel tank could also drop to the ground.

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

owner will be sent new straps and nuts along with instructions for installation and has the option of installing it him/herself or having it done by the dealer, free of charge.

1976 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Controls

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1975 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment:Other:Labels

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1975 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1974 Blue Bird All American

Component

Visibility:Glass, Side/Rear

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1974 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment:Other:Labels

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1974 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Supply:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1974 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Supply:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1974 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1973 Blue Bird All American

Component

Equipment:Other:Labels

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1973 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1973 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1973 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1972 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1972 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1972 Blue Bird All American

Component

Fuel System, Gasoline:Carburetor System

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1972 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1971 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1971 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1971 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Supply

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1971 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Foundation Components:Hoses, Lines/Piping, And Fittings

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1970 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1970 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1970 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Supply

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1969 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1969 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1969 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1969 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Supply

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1968 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1968 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1968 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Air:Controls:Foot Control

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1968 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1967 Blue Bird All American

Component

Service Brakes, Hydraulic:Pedals And Linkages

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1967 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1966 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1965 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1964 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes

1963 Blue Bird All American

Component

Steering:Hydraulic Power Assist System

Consequence of Defect

Corrective Action

Recall Notes