BLUE BIRD Complaints

2012 & 2013 BLUE BIRD VISION. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO SCHOOL BUSES STRUCTURAL FAILURE. *SMD THE CONSUMER ENCLOSED PICTURES OF METAL CRACKING UNDER THE DASH SUPPORT AND CRACKING OF THE OUTER BODY.

DURING SPOT INSPECTION BY THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, AN APPROXIMATELY 2" LONG HORIZONTAL LINE OF RUST WAS DISCOVERED NEAR THE DRIVER-SIDE SHOCK MOUNT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRAME RAIL. IT WAS DETERMINED THIS WAS A HAIRLINE CRACK. INSPECTORS MENTIONED THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER BLUE BIRD SCHOOL BUSES IN NW OHIO. AFTER CALLING OTHER SCHOOLS, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT SOME NEARBY HAD EXPERIENCED THIS ON ALL AMERICAN FORWARD ENGINE UNITS. AN ENTITY WAS LOCATED TO MAKE THE REPAIR AT A COST OF NEARLY $1,000. *TR

DURING ANNUAL INSPECTION BY THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, AN APPROXIMATELY 2" LONG HORIZONTAL LINE OF RUST WAS DISCOVERED NEAR THE DRIVER-SIDE SHOCK MOUNT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRAME RAIL. IT WAS DETERMINED THIS WAS A HAIRLINE CRACK. INSPECTORS MENTIONED THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER BLUE BIRD SCHOOL BUSES IN NW OHIO. AFTER CALLING OTHER SCHOOLS, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT SOME NEARBY HAD EXPERIENCED THIS ON ALL AMERICAN FORWARD ENGINE UNITS. IN SPEAKING WITH THE BLUE BIRD DEALERSHIP, IT WAS STATED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER BLUE BIRD UNITS; THE DEALERSHIP ALSO EXPRESSED OBVIOUS APPREHENSION ABOUT MAKING THE REPAIR TO THE BUS. ANOTHER ENTITY WAS LOCATED TO MAKE THE REPAIR AT A COST OF NEARLY $1,000. *TR

2009 BLUEBIRD ALL AMERICAN RE BUS. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO ENGINE PROBLEMS. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED SIX BUSES WERE EQUIPPED WITH THE CATERPILLAR C-7 ENGINE AND ACERT TECHNOLOGY. THE TECHNOLOGY WAS USED TO MAKE THE ENGINES COMPLY WITH THE EMISSION STANDARDS. HOWEVER, WHENEVER THE SYSTEM HAD A PROBLEM, THERE WAS REDUCED POWER FROM THE ENGINE, WHICH HAPPENED AT ANY GIVEN TIME. OVER THE PAST THREE YEARS, THE BUSES HAVE BEEN OUT OF SERVICE OVER 1100 DAYS. THE BUSES WOULD BE PICKED UP FROM THE DEALER AND WOULD BREAK DOWN BEFORE BEING RETURNED TO THE SCHOOL.

TRUCK HAS ONLY 57,000 MILES & BRAKE LINES LOOK AS THO THEY ARE READY TO BREAK BECAUSE OF EXCESSIVE RUST. I PULL HORSE TRAILERS &BRAKE AM CONCERNED ABOUT BRAKE SAFETY. AFTER READING ABOUT ALL THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE BRAKE LINES, WHAT SHOULD I DO? BRAKE PEDAL WENT RIGHT TO FLOOR. ALMOST CRASHED! *TR

VOQ ENTERED BY MHDVD ON 8/22/2011 THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE DASH OF THE SCHOOL BUS WHICH RAPIDLY DEVELOPED AND ENGULFED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE OF FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED AFTER INSPECTION. ELECTIRCAL HEATING WAS NOTED AT THE SOLENOID BUT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE SUFFICIENT TO ACT AS AN IGNITION SOURCE AND LACK OF FUEL IN THE AREA DOES NOT DEMONSTRATE A MEANS FOR A FIRE TO DEVELOP.

OF THE SIX THEY OPERATE ALL HAVE FAILED, WITH AN AVERAGE MILEAGE OF 29,000 AND 500 DAYS IN SERVICE FOR THE FIRST FAILURE. SECOND FAILURES HAVE OCCURRED ON TWO OF THE BUSES: BOTH AT ABOUT 300 DAYS AND 19,000 MILES SINCE THE PREVIOUS FAILURE. WHEN THE HOSE FAILS IT IS A MAJOR LEAK AND THE VEHICLES HAVE HAD TO BE TOWED. ALL PARTS HAVE BEEN RETURNED UNDER WARRANTY, SO CURRENTLY THERE ARE NO PARTS FOR US TO LOOK AT. HOWEVER HE STATED THAT THE FAILURE APPEARS TO INITIATE FROM THE INSIDE OF THE HOSE THEREFORE MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO CATCH PRIOR TO THE FAILURE. SOME OF THESE BUSES ARE SPECIAL NEEDS BUSES. UPDATED 02/22/12*LJ

DRIVER WAS PULLING INTO A BUS LOADING ZONE WHEN THE BUS SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND REAR ENDED A STOPPED SCHOOL BUS IN FRONT OF IT. THE PARKED BUS WAS FULL SIZE SCHOOL BUS, OUR BUS WAS A MINIBUS BUILT ON A GM CHASSIS. *TT

ON OUR 2004 AND 2005 L4RE BLUEBIRD BUSES WHERE THE STEERING GEAR MOUNTS TO THE FRAME THE FRAME IS CRACKING AROUND THE BOLT HOLES. WE HAVE A FLEET OF 8 AND WE HAVE FOUND 4 WITH CRACKS. *KB

1995 BLUEBIRD WANDERLODGE STEERING GEAR BOX BLEW OUT WHILE GOING OVER 60 MILES PER HOUR. *TR