Blue Bird Body Company: Safety Recalls in 2009

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 MICRO BIRD SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 28, 2007 THROUGH OCTOBER 29, 2009. AN INCORRECT NUMBER OF RIVETS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED IN THE FRONT ROOF CAP THAT ATTACHES TO THE FRONT ROOF SHEET. THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH."

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 ALL AMERICAN D3 FRONT ENGINE MODEL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 13, 2009 THROUGH OCTOBER 24, 2009. ADHESIVE FOR THE INSIDE PANELS ADJACENT TO THE REAR CENTER EMERGENCY DOOR WAS OMITTED FROM THE JOINTS. THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH."

CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2010 BLUE BIRD MICRO BIRD SINGLE REAR WHEEL MODEL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 31, 2005 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 27, 2009, FAIL TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 110, "TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS." IF THE VEHICLE IS NOT EQUIPPED WITH A SPARE TIRE, THEN THE TIRE AND LOADING PLACARD SHOULD INDICATE "NONE" UNDER THE SIZE AND RECOMMENDED TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE. THE PLACARD LISTED INFLATION PRESSURE FOR A SPARE TIRE THAT WAS THE SAME AS THE FRONT TIRE INFLATION PRESSURE.

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 VISION SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 12 AND SEPTEMBER 10, 2009 THAT WERE EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTIONAL WHEELCHAIR LIFT. THE WHEELCHAIR LIFT POWER CABLE MAY COME IN CONTACT WITH THE ENGINE EXHAUST MANIFOLD.

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 ALL AMERICAN, VISION, AND MICRO BIRD SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 18, 2008 AND FEBRUARY 11, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH SPECIALTY MANUFACTURING, INC. (SMI) 000290 LED LIGHT KITS. A CHANGE TO THE WIRE USED IN THE LED LIGHT KITS MAY REDUCE THE EFFECTIVE LIFE OF THE LIGHTS USED ON THE STOP ARMS. THE LIGHTS MAY STOP FUNCTIONING WITHOUT WARNING.

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2004 THROUGH 2010 ALL AMERICAN, VISION, MICRO BIRD, AND CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 30, 2003 AND MAY 7, 2009. INCORRECT OFFSET LEG BARRIER PADS OR 2/3 SEAT BACK PADS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED. BUSES WITH INCORRECT PADS INSTALLED FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 222, "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION."

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 1,709 MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 ALL AMERICAN FRONT ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM FEBRUARY 27, 2007 THROUGH JULY 2, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH "07" ENGINES, AIR BRAKES AND SPRING SUSPENSIONS. WHEN THE BUS IS LOADED WITH PASSENGERS, THE SPRINGS COMPRESS WHICH COULD ALLOW THE AIR BRAKE HOSE TO CONTACT THE DRIVE LINE.

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 35 MODEL YEAR 2010 ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 13 THROUGH JUNE 17, 2009. INSUFFICIENT RIVETS WERE INSTALLED IN THE REAR HEADLINER PANEL. THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE JOINT STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH."

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 7,772 MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 VISION SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 27, 2007 THROUGH JUNE 10, 2009. THE LID GASKET ON THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR MAY DETERIORATE AND CONTAMINATE THE POWER STEERING FLUID WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF POWER STEERING ASSIST.

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 32 MODEL YEAR 2009 BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JULY 3, 2008 THROUGH JANUARY 7, 2009 AND SOLD TO THE U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION FOR OVERSEAS USE. THESE BUSES WERE EQUIPPED WITH DEFECTIVE HALDEX QUICK RELEASE VALVES (QRV). THE RUBBER DIAPHRAGM INSIDE THE QRV MAY EXPERIENCE DELAMINATION RESULTING IN SIGNIFICANT LEVELS OF AIR PRESSURE LEAKAGE PAST AND/OR THROUGH THE DIAPHRAGM, OR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A BUBBLE IN THE DIAPHRAGM WHICH MAY TRAP AIR PRESSURE IN THE VALVE AND NOT ALLOW THE SERVICE BRAKES TO RELEASE.

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 69 MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 MICRO BIRD AND VISION SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 29, 2007 THROUGH MAY 2, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL 34 INCH OFFSET BARRIER. THE OFFSET LEG OF THE BARRIER FRAME MAY HAVE BEEN LOCATED INCORRECTLY AND INCORRECT PADDING MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED ON THE 34 INCH OFFSET BARRIERS WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH THE LEG PROTECTION ZONE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 222, "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION."

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 377 MODEL YEAR 2009 AND 2010 VISION CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 13, 2008 THROUGH MAY 17, 2009, EQUIPPED WITH PROPANE ENGINES. THE POWER STEERING RETURN HOSE MAY LEAK AND/OR FAIL RESULTING IN LOSS OF HYDRAULIC STEERING ASSIST.

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 442 MODEL YEAR 2008 AND 2009 ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 22 TO NOVEMBER 22, 2008. THE BOLTS THAT MOUNT THE STEERING GEAR TO THE FRAME MAY NOT HAVE BEEN PROPERLY TORQUED.

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 2,203 MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2010 ALL AMERICAN REAR ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL PLUG STYLE VANDAL LOCKS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 16, 2003 THROUGH APRIL 10, 2009. THE PLUG STYLE VANDAL LOCK IS NOT WIRED TO INHIBIT THE STARTER AT THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE VANDAL LOCK IS IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 3,419 MY 2008 AND 2009 VISION CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JANUARY 18, 2007 THROUGH OCTOBER 29, 2008, EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C7 AND C7 07 ENGINES. INCORRECT BOLTS AND/OR SPACERS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TO ATTACH THE FAN BLADE TO THE FAN CLUTCH.

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 4,591 MY 2007 AND 2008 VISION CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 29, 2006 THROUGH DECEMBER 3, 2007, EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C7 ENGINES. THE MAIN BATTERY POWER CABLE MAY CHAFE AGAINST THE ENGINE COMPONENTS AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE.