Blue Bird Body Company: Safety Recalls in 1996

Updated on March 19, 2026.

There were 11 safety recalls made by Blue Bird Body Company in 1996. See the details of the recalls below.

You can also see similar information for other manufacturers.

Data Source: NHTSA.

See this for other years:

October 9, 1996

(Campaign #: NR (Not Reported))

BLUE BIRD/POWERTRAIN DRIVE MOTORS

OVERSIZED ROTORS WERE INSTALLED IN THE POWERTRAIN DRIVE MOTORS IN THESE BUSES.

NHTSA ID: 96V198000

Component:

# of Units Affected: 5

Consequence Summary:

WHEN THE BUS IS IN SERVICE AND THE OVERSIZED ROTOR INSIDE THE ELECTRIC POWERTRAIN MOTOR BECOMES HEATED, THE ROTOR EXPANDS CAUSING THE MOTOR TO BECOME SLUGGISH, STALL AND COULD SEIZE, FAILING COMPLETELY.

Corrective Action:

NORTHRUP-GRUMMAN WILL PERFORM THE MODIFICATION TO THESE POWERTRAIN DRIVE MOTORS.

Park Outside Advisory: No

Do not Drive Advisory: No

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September 23, 1996

(Campaign #: NR (Not Reported))

BLUE BIRD/POWER STEERING

THE POWER STEERING HOSE WITH A CRIMPED END FITTING WAS IMPROPERLY MANUFACTURED.

NHTSA ID: 96V180000

Component: STEERING

# of Units Affected: 194

Consequence Summary:

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.

Corrective Action:

OWNERS ARE REQUESTED TO INSPECT THE POWER STEERING HOSE FOR THE SUSPECT HOSES (IDENTIFIABLE BY DATE CODE) AND REPLACE HOSES AS NECESSARY.

Park Outside Advisory: No

Do not Drive Advisory: No

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July 12, 1996

(Campaign #: NR (Not Reported))

BLUE BIRD/BRAKES:HYDRAULIC:LINES:HOSE:NON-METALLIC

INTERFERENCE BETWEEN THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSES OR BLEEDER VALVES AND THE "REYCO" AIR SUSPENSION COMPONENTS CAN OCCUR CAUSING FAILURE OF ONE OF THE HYDRAULIC FITTINGS.

NHTSA ID: 96V132000

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

# of Units Affected: 32

Consequence Summary:

FAILURE OF THE HYDRAULIC FITTINGS CAN CAUSE A LOSS OF BRAKE FLUID RESULTING IN LOSS OF BRAKES INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Corrective Action:

Park Outside Advisory: No

Do not Drive Advisory: No

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July 11, 1996

(Campaign #: NR (Not Reported))

BLUE BIRD/SEAT TRACK ANCHORS AND SEATS

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.

NHTSA ID: 96V126001

Component:

# of Units Affected: 11,371

Consequence Summary:

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.

Corrective Action:

DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE PEDESTALS WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED PEDESTAL BRACKET KIT.

Park Outside Advisory: No

Do not Drive Advisory: No

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July 1, 1996

(Campaign #: NR (Not Reported))

BLUE BIRD/FUEL:FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY

THESE BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."

NHTSA ID: 96V112000

Component: FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE

# of Units Affected: 11,222

Consequence Summary:

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, FUEL SPILLAGE CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE.

Corrective Action:

BLUE BIRD IS DISTRIBUTING MODIFICATION KITS WHICH INCLUDES NEW FASTENERS FOR OWNER OR DEALER INSTALLATION.

Park Outside Advisory: No

Do not Drive Advisory: No

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May 3, 1996

(Campaign #: NR (Not Reported))

BLUE BIRD/STRUCTURE:BODY:GRAB BAR

PASSENGER'S CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE FORWARD HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

NHTSA ID: 96V073000

Component: STRUCTURE

# of Units Affected: 18,000

Consequence Summary:

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.

Corrective Action:

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.

Park Outside Advisory: No

Do not Drive Advisory: No

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May 3, 1996

(Campaign #: NR (Not Reported))

BLUE BIRD/STRUCTURE:BODY:GRAB BAR

PASSENGER'S CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

NHTSA ID: 96V078000

Component: STRUCTURE

# of Units Affected: 203

Consequence Summary:

Corrective Action:

REPLACE OR REPOSITION THE HANDRAILS TO STOP CLOTHING FROM BEING CAUGHT.

Park Outside Advisory: No

Do not Drive Advisory: No

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April 19, 1996

(Campaign #: NR (Not Reported))

BLUE BIRD/BRAKES:AIR:DRUM AND SHOE SYSTEMS

AIR SUSPENSION TORQUE ARM CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE AIR BRAKE CHAMBER MOUNTING BRACKET RESULTING IN BROKEN S-CAM MOUNTING BRACKET.

NHTSA ID: 96V068000

Component: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

# of Units Affected: 108

Consequence Summary:

THIS CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF BRAKE LINING CONTACTON THE REAR WHEEL INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Corrective Action:

DEALERS WILL MODIFY VEHICLES TO INCORPORATE AN AXLE SEAT SPACER AND REPLACE THE CAM SHAFT AND CAM SHAFT BRACKET WITH A LONGER CAM SHAFT AND CAM SHAFT BRACKET ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE.

Park Outside Advisory: No

Do not Drive Advisory: No

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January 23, 1996

(Campaign #: NR (Not Reported))

BLUE BIRD/FUSE AND RECEPTICLE:CIRCUIT BREA

THE WRONG CIRCUIT BREAKER WAS INSTALLED IN THE ELECTRICAL PANEL WHICH COULD CAUSE AN INTERRUPTION OF THE 8-LIGHT WARNING SYSTEM.

NHTSA ID: 96V011000

Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

# of Units Affected: 307

Consequence Summary:

THE 8-LIGHT WARNING SYSTEM WOULD STOP FUNCTIONING WHILE DISCHARGING PASSENGERS INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE ACCIDENT OR AN EXITING PASSENGER BEING STRUCK BY AN ONCOMING VEHICLE.

Corrective Action:

OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED TO CHECK AND REPLACE AS NECESSARY THE CIRCUIT BREAKERS. OWNERS CAN ALSO HAVE THESE CIRCUIT BREAKERS CHECKED AND REPLACED AT AN AUTHORIZED DEALER.

Park Outside Advisory: No

Do not Drive Advisory: No

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January 23, 1996

(Campaign #: NR (Not Reported))

BLUE BIRD/HANDRAILS

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.

NHTSA ID: 96V012000

Component: STRUCTURE

# of Units Affected: 327

Consequence Summary:

Corrective Action:

DEALERS WILL INSPECT AND RELOCATE THE BRACKET AS NECESSARY. OWNERS CAN INSPECT AND RELOCATE THE BRACKET IS SO DESIRED.

Park Outside Advisory: No

Do not Drive Advisory: No

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January 1, 1996

(Campaign #: NR (Not Reported))

BLUE BIRD/MANUAL WINDOW CRANKS (8/82)

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."

NHTSA ID: 96V023000

Component: VISIBILITY

# of Units Affected: 117

Consequence Summary:

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.

Corrective Action:

DEALERS WILL INSTALL A NEW CAM LOCK PLATE.

Park Outside Advisory: No

Do not Drive Advisory: No

View Full Recall Details