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1998 Blue Bird Csre

Component

Interior Lighting

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school and transit buses. the parking brake indicator light can illuminate without the parking brake being set.

Corrective Action

a driver may see the parking brake indicator light on and leave the bus. the bus may then roll increasing the risk of personal injury and/or property damage.

Recall Notes

dealers will add a diode to the stop light circuit to prevent illumination of the parking brake indicator unless the parking brake has been set.

1996 Blue Bird Csre

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 Csre

Component

Seats

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school buses equipped with bostrom driver's seat model f222 or bostrum "routemaster" seat. blue bird option 2821 or 2824. the seat pedestals are fatigue cracking adjacent to the weld which secures the pedestal's upper plate to the upper, telescoping portion of the adjustable column support.

Corrective Action

the upper mounting plate and seat upper gradually becomes loose resulting in the upper plate detaching from the supporting column and the seat can fall from its mounting. this can result in personal injury to the driver.

Recall Notes

dealers will repair these pedestals with a newly designed pedestal bracket kit.

1995 Blue Bird Csre

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 Csre

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 Csre

Component

Seats

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school buses equipped with bostrom driver's seat model f222 or bostrum "routemaster" seat. blue bird option 2821 or 2824. the seat pedestals are fatigue cracking adjacent to the weld which secures the pedestal's upper plate to the upper, telescoping portion of the adjustable column support.

Corrective Action

the upper mounting plate and seat upper gradually becomes loose resulting in the upper plate detaching from the supporting column and the seat can fall from its mounting. this can result in personal injury to the driver.

Recall Notes

dealers will repair these pedestals with a newly designed pedestal bracket kit.

1994 Blue Bird Csre

Component

Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing

Consequence of Defect

the wheelbearing locknut and cotter pin were not installed on the front axle hubs. the can cause a gradual increase in wheel shimmy.

Corrective Action

this can result in increased difficulty in steering and, if uncorrected, separation of the wheel from the axle.

Recall Notes

repair kits will be furnished to owners and reimbursement for labor and materials will be made.

1994 Blue Bird Csre

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 Csre

Component

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

Consequence of Defect

air brake supply lines are reversed at the brake treadle valve. this can cause the modulated spring brake feature on the rear axle brake to be inoperable. in the event the rear brake supply reservoir were lost, this could result in loss of brakes without proper function of the modulated spring brake action of the rear brake axle to stop the vehicle.

Corrective Action

loss of the secondary spring brake function could result in a vehicle accident if the primary air brakes fail.

Recall Notes

vehicle owners will be instructed to swap supply lines at the treadle valve to obtain the correct plumbing, and will be reimbursed for labor expenses.

1994 Blue Bird Csre

Component

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan

Consequence of Defect

a sudden hydraulic pressure loss during hard turns results in a momentary loss of power steering assist. the pressure loss occurs when the hydraulically driven engine cooling fan turns off in the turn.

Corrective Action

the driver reacts to the loss of power steering assist by oversteering, which could result in a vehicle accident.

Recall Notes

the hydraulic control valves will be replaced with valves of a new design. until such time as parts are available, owners will be instructed to disconnect the fan cutoff switch so that hydraulically driven fans will run full time, eliminating the pressure spike.

1994 Blue Bird Csre

Component

Seats

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school buses equipped with bostrom driver's seat model f222 or bostrum "routemaster" seat. blue bird option 2821 or 2824. the seat pedestals are fatigue cracking adjacent to the weld which secures the pedestal's upper plate to the upper, telescoping portion of the adjustable column support.

Corrective Action

the upper mounting plate and seat upper gradually becomes loose resulting in the upper plate detaching from the supporting column and the seat can fall from its mounting. this can result in personal injury to the driver.

Recall Notes

dealers will repair these pedestals with a newly designed pedestal bracket kit.

1993 Blue Bird Csre

Component

Suspension:Front:Wheel Bearing

Consequence of Defect

the wheelbearing locknut and cotter pin were not installed on the front axle hubs. the can cause a gradual increase in wheel shimmy.

Corrective Action

this can result in increased difficulty in steering and, if uncorrected, separation of the wheel from the axle.

Recall Notes

repair kits will be furnished to owners and reimbursement for labor and materials will be made.

1993 Blue Bird Csre

Component

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan

Consequence of Defect

a sudden hydraulic pressure loss during hard turns results in a momentary loss of power steering assist. the pressure loss occurs when the hydraulically driven engine cooling fan turns off in the turn.

Corrective Action

the driver reacts to the loss of power steering assist by oversteering, which could result in a vehicle accident.

Recall Notes

the hydraulic control valves will be replaced with valves of a new design. until such time as parts are available, owners will be instructed to disconnect the fan cutoff switch so that hydraulically driven fans will run full time, eliminating the pressure spike.

1993 Blue Bird Csre

Component

Seats

Consequence of Defect

vehicle description: school buses equipped with bostrom driver's seat model f222 or bostrum "routemaster" seat. blue bird option 2821 or 2824. the seat pedestals are fatigue cracking adjacent to the weld which secures the pedestal's upper plate to the upper, telescoping portion of the adjustable column support.

Corrective Action

the upper mounting plate and seat upper gradually becomes loose resulting in the upper plate detaching from the supporting column and the seat can fall from its mounting. this can result in personal injury to the driver.

Recall Notes

dealers will repair these pedestals with a newly designed pedestal bracket kit.

1992 Blue Bird Csre

Component

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan

Consequence of Defect

a sudden hydraulic pressure loss during hard turns results in a momentary loss of power steering assist. the pressure loss occurs when the hydraulically driven engine cooling fan turns off in the turn.

Corrective Action

the driver reacts to the loss of power steering assist by oversteering, which could result in a vehicle accident.

Recall Notes

the hydraulic control valves will be replaced with valves of a new design. until such time as parts are available, owners will be instructed to disconnect the fan cutoff switch so that hydraulically driven fans will run full time, eliminating the pressure spike.

1991 Blue Bird Csre

Component

Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System:Fan

Consequence of Defect

a sudden hydraulic pressure loss during hard turns results in a momentary loss of power steering assist. the pressure loss occurs when the hydraulically driven engine cooling fan turns off in the turn.

Corrective Action

the driver reacts to the loss of power steering assist by oversteering, which could result in a vehicle accident.

Recall Notes

the hydraulic control valves will be replaced with valves of a new design. until such time as parts are available, owners will be instructed to disconnect the fan cutoff switch so that hydraulically driven fans will run full time, eliminating the pressure spike.