Blue Bird Body Company: Safety Recalls in 2013

Updated on March 19, 2026.

There were 12 safety recalls made by Blue Bird Body Company in 2013. See the details of the recalls below.

You can also see similar information for other manufacturers.

Data Source: NHTSA.
See this for other years:
December 24, 2013
(Campaign #: R13WT)

Parking Brake may Unexpectedly Release

Blue Bird Corporation is recalling certain 2014-2015 model year All American and Vision school buses manufactured from September 24, 2013, through December 6, 2013. In the affected vehicles, a component within the hydraulic park brake pedal arm may not have been properly heat treated and may fracture causing the parking brake to release without warning.
NHTSA ID: 13V643000
Component:
# of Units Affected: 217
Consequence Summary:
If the park brake pedal arm fractures, the bus may unexpectedly roll increasing the risk of personal injury or a vehicle crash.
Corrective Action:
Blue Bird has notified owners and dealers will install a new parking brake assembly, free of charge. The recall began on December 31, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R13WT.
Park Outside Advisory: No
Do not Drive Advisory: No
Completion Rate (%): 95.39
November 20, 2013
(Campaign #: R13WS)

Seat Belt may be Difficult to Unlatch/FMVSS 209

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2014 Vision and All American model non-school buses manufactured August 23, 2013, through November 6, 2013 and equipped with IMMI-brand L9 driver's seat belts. When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle, making the seat belt difficult to unlatch. Thus, this equipment fails to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
NHTSA ID: 13V577000
Component: SEAT BELTS
# of Units Affected: 146
Consequence Summary:
If the latch plate remains partially engaged after the button is pressed, egress from the vehicle could be hindered which would increase the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.
Corrective Action:
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt buckle, and if necessary, replace the seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird recall number R13WS.
Park Outside Advisory: No
Do not Drive Advisory: No
Completion Rate (%): 24.83
November 20, 2013
(Campaign #: R13WS)

Seat Belt may be Difficult to Unlatch/FMVSS 209

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2014 and 2015 Vision and All American model school buses manufactured August 23, 2013, through November 6, 2013 and equipped with IMMI-brand L9 driver's seat belts. When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle, making the seat belt difficult to unlatch. Thus, this equipment fails to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
NHTSA ID: 13V579000
Component: SEAT BELTS
# of Units Affected: 802
Consequence Summary:
If the latch plate remains partially engaged after the button is pressed, egress from the vehicle could be hindered which would increase the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.
Corrective Action:
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt buckle, and if necessary, replace the seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's recall number R13WS.
Park Outside Advisory: No
Do not Drive Advisory: No
Completion Rate (%): 71.82
October 31, 2013
(Campaign #: R13WR)

Front Suspension Bolts may Break

Blue Bird Corporation (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2014 All American and Conventional school buses manufactured July 2, 2013, through October 3, 2013 and equipped with front suspension bolts marked with a "ZY" code on the bolt head. Due to a problem in the bolt manufacturing process, the bolts that hold the front suspension may break.
NHTSA ID: 13V543000
Component: SUSPENSION
# of Units Affected: 1,747
Consequence Summary:
A broken suspension bolt would require greater steering input to control the bus, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front suspension bolts. Any bolts with a "ZY" code will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on December 10, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R13WR.
Park Outside Advisory: No
Do not Drive Advisory: No
Completion Rate (%): 80.92
October 31, 2013
(Campaign #: R13WR)

Front Suspension Bolts May Break

Blue Bird Corporation (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2014 All American and Conventional Vision non-school buses manufactured July 2, 2013, through October 3, 2013 and equipped with front suspension bolts marked with a "ZY" code on the bolt head. Due to a problem in the bolt manufacturing process, the bolts that hold the front suspension may break.
NHTSA ID: 13V545000
Component: SUSPENSION
# of Units Affected: 87
Consequence Summary:
A broken suspension bolt would require greater steering input to control the bus, thereby increasing the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the front suspension bolts. Any bolts with a "ZY" code will be replaced free of charge. The recall began on December 10, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R13WR.
Park Outside Advisory: No
Do not Drive Advisory: No
Completion Rate (%): 32.18
October 17, 2013
(Campaign #: R13WN)

Battery Equalizers/DC-DC Converters-Possible Fire

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2004 Ultra LMB, 2003-2006 Ultra LF and 2004-2007 Express commercial buses equipped with Sure Power-brand battery equalizers containing a particular epoxy sealing, aka 'potting', compound. The specific potting compound used in the subject products for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.
NHTSA ID: 13V480000
Component:
# of Units Affected: 393
Consequence Summary:
Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.
Corrective Action:
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will replace the equalizers, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-825-2021. Blue Bird's recall number is R13WN.
Park Outside Advisory: No
Do not Drive Advisory: No
Completion Rate (%): 22.34
July 31, 2013
(Campaign #: R13WM)

Window Panel Adhesive Strength/FMVSS 221

Blue Bird Body Company is recalling certain model year 2007-2014 All American and Vision school buses manufactured March 10, 2006, through June 18, 2013; and equipped with optional transit sliding windows. Joint adhesive may not have been applied at the interior and exterior body window panel joints. Without the adhesive, these vehicles fail to conform to the standards of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 221, "School Bus Body Joint Strength."
NHTSA ID: 13V332000
Component:
# of Units Affected: 172
Consequence Summary:
In the event of a vehicle crash, there is an increased risk that the window panels may separate and fall onto occupants causing injury.
Corrective Action:
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will install additional rivets at the window panel joints, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-825-2021. Blue Bird's recall number is R13WM.
Park Outside Advisory: No
Do not Drive Advisory: No
May 29, 2013
(Campaign #: R13WG)

Incorrectly Adjusted Brake Light Switches

Blue Bird is recalling certain 2014 model year Blue Bird conventional (Vision) model school buses manufactured from March 11, 2013 through April 29, 2013 and equipped with Ford propane engines. On the subject buses, the brake light switches may not have been adjusted properly.
NHTSA ID: 13V226000
Component: EXTERIOR LIGHTING
# of Units Affected: 346
Consequence Summary:
Misadjusted brake light switches may result in one of the following occurrences: the brake lights may remain illuminated after the brake pedal has been released; the brake lights may be delayed in illumination after the brake pedal has been depressed. Either condition may increase the risk of a crash.
Corrective Action:
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the adjustment of the brake light switch. Any brake light switch found not properly adjusted will be replaced. This work will be performed free of charge. The recall began on June 20, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R13WG.
Park Outside Advisory: No
Do not Drive Advisory: No
May 15, 2013
(Campaign #: R13WF)

Flip Seat/Possible Toe or foot pinch

Blue Bird is recalling certain model year 2010 through 2014 All American and Vision model school buses manufactured from August 25, 2009, through March 19, 2013, and equipped with C. E. White Inc. Flip Seats models Quasi Static "QSJ11" (30", 36", 39" and 45"), Student Safety Seat "SSSJ" (30", 36", 39" and 45"), or School Bus Seat "SBJ" (30", 36", 39" and 45").
NHTSA ID: 13V200000
Component:
# of Units Affected: 441
Consequence Summary:
When a Flip Seat is installed in front of another passenger seat, it is possible for the occupant of the rearward passenger seat to insert their toes and/or foot into the lower frame area of the Flip Seat. When a vehicle passenger occupies the Flip Seat, pushing the seat bottom downward to the horizontal position to sit in the seat, the occupant of the rearward seat could suffer a pinch point injury to their toes and/or foot.
Corrective Action:
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will install a safety guard to prevent passengers from placing their toes or feet in the opening on the back of the subject Flip Seats, free of charge. The recall began on June 14, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242 for more information. Blue Bird's number for this campaign is R13WF.
Park Outside Advisory: No
Do not Drive Advisory: No
April 9, 2013
(Campaign #: R13WD)

Grid Heater Power Supply Cable/Possible Fire

Blue Bird is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 All American rear engine school buses manufactured from August 9, 2007, through June 9, 2010, powered by Cummins ISB07 engines. In the affected vehicles, the grid heater power cable may be improperly routed, which could result in contact with the chassis frame rail.
NHTSA ID: 13V125000
Component:
# of Units Affected: 276
Consequence Summary:
If the cable contacts the chassis frame rail it could potentially chafe against the frame thereby creating a direct short which could result in a fire.
Corrective Action:
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the buses for proper positioning of the grid heater power cable. Any cables found contacting the chassis frame rail will have the grid heater cable repositioned to prevent further contact. Any damaged cables found will be replaced. The repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began on May 3, 2013. On August 15, 2014, Blue Bird sent out renoticiation letters to owners regarding the recall. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's recall campaign number is R13WD.
Park Outside Advisory: No
Do not Drive Advisory: No
April 9, 2013
(Campaign #: R13WD)

Grid Heater Power Supply Cable/Possible Fire

Blue Bird is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 All American rear engine, non-school, transit buses manufactured from August 9, 2007, through June 9, 2010, and powered by Cummins ISB07 engines. In the affected vehicles, the grid heater power cable may be improperly routed, which could result in contact with the chassis frame rail.
NHTSA ID: 13V126000
Component:
# of Units Affected: 17
Consequence Summary:
If the cable contacts the chassis frame rail it could potentially chafe against the frame thereby creating a direct short which could result in a fire.
Corrective Action:
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the buses for proper positioning of the grid heater power cable. Any cables found contacting the chassis frame rail will have the grid heater cable repositioned to prevent further contact. Any damaged cables found will be replaced. The repairs will be made free of charge. Notification to owners began on May 3, 2013. On August 15, 2014, Blue Bird sent out renoticiation letters to owners regarding the recall. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's recall campaign number is R13WD.
Park Outside Advisory: No
Do not Drive Advisory: No
February 5, 2013
(Campaign #: R13WA)

Cracks in Steering Gear Bracket

Blue Bird Corporation is recalling certain model year Ultra LF transit buses manufactured March 14, 2003, through March 12, 2007. Cracks may develop in the bracket which secures the power steering gear to the bus frame.
NHTSA ID: 13V036000
Component:
# of Units Affected: 152
Consequence Summary:
If left unchecked, the cracks may propagate and cause a separation of the steering gear from the bus frame. This would result in a loss of steering control, possibly increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.
Corrective Action:
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will install reinforcement plates, free of charge. The recall began on March 20, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-825-2021.
Park Outside Advisory: No
Do not Drive Advisory: No