BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN Recalls

Jun 29, 2010 – BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 ALL AMERICAN AND VISION MODEL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 25, 2009 THROUGH JANUARY 12, 2010. THE DRIVER'S SEAT SHOCK DAMPER MAY BREAK ALLOWING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO UNEXPECTEDLY DROP TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING.

Jun 29, 2010 – BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 ALL AMERICAN MODEL NON SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MARCH 25, 2009 THROUGH JANUARY 12, 2010. THE DRIVER'S SEAT SHOCK DAMPER MAY BREAK ALLOWING THE DRIVER'S SEAT TO UNEXPECTEDLY DROP TO THE FLOOR WITHOUT WARNING.

Jun 28, 2010 – BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 ALL AMERICAN AND VISION MODEL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 23, 2007 THROUGH MARCH 9, 2010, EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C7 ENGINES. THE #5 AND #6 FUEL LINES MAY CRACK AT THE FASTENING POINT TO THE COMMON FUEL RAIL AND CAUSE A FUEL LEAK.

Jun 28, 2010 – BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 ALL AMERICAN, VISION, AND EXCEL 102 MODEL NON SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 17, 2007 THROUGH NOVEMBER 13, 2008, EQUIPPED WITH CATERPILLAR C7 ENGINES. THE #5 AND #6 FUEL LINES MAY CRACK AT THE FASTENING POINT TO THE COMMON FUEL RAIL AND CAUSE A FUEL LEAK.

Apr 05, 2010 – BLUE BIRD HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 ALL AMERICAN, CONVENTIONAL, AND MICRO BIRD SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 13, 2007 THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH RICON MODEL S OR K SERIES PUBLIC USE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE RESTRAINT BELT ON THESE LIFTS WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LIFT FROM MOVING, UNLESS THE TONGUE OF THE BELT IS FULLY ENGAGED AND LATCHED IN THE BUCKLE. RICON HAS DISCOVERED, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE OPERATOR TO INSERT THE BELT TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE WITHOUT FULLY ENGAGING THE LATCHING MECHANISM. IN THIS CASE, THE RESTRAINT BELT WOULD APPEAR TO BE LATCHED, AND THE OPERATOR COULD RUN THE LIFT. IF THE RESTRAINT BELT TONGUE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED INTO THE RESTRAINT BELT BUCKLE, AND LATCHED, THE LIFT MAY OPERATE WITH AN OCCUPANT ON THE PLATFORM.

Apr 05, 2010 – BLUE BIRD HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2010 ALL AMERICAN, CONVENTIONAL, AND MICRO BIRD TRANSI BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 16, 2007 THROUGH DECEMBER 21, 2009 EQUIPPED WITH RICON MODEL S OR K SERIES PUBLIC USE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE RESTRAINT BELT ON THESE LIFTS WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LIFT FROM MOVING, UNLESS THE TONGUE OF THE BELT IS FULLY ENGAGED AND LATCHED IN THE BUCKLE. RICON HAS DISCOVERED, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE OPERATOR TO INSERT THE BELT TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE WITHOUT FULLY ENGAGING THE LATCHING MECHANISM. IN THIS CASE, THE RESTRAINT BELT WOULD APPEAR TO BE LATCHED, AND THE OPERATOR COULD RUN THE LIFT. IF THE RESTRAINT BELT TONGUE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED INTO THE RESTRAINT BELT BUCKLE, AND LATCHED, THE LIFT MAY OPERATE WITH AN OCCUPANT ON THE PLATFORM.

Apr 05, 2010 – BLUE BIRD HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 ALL AMERICAN, CONVENTIONAL, AND MICRO BIRD SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 24 THROUGH NOVEMBER 14, 2009 EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN RICON S SERIES AND K SERIES L-MODEL WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLS THE LIFT'S "UP" FUNCTION. IF THE "UP" SWITCH IS RELEASED BEFORE THE FLOOR LEVEL LIMIT SWITCH IS ACTIVATED, THE LIFT MAY CONTINUE ITS UPWARD TRAVEL FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND BEFORE STOPPING. THE CONTINUED UPWARD TRAVEL MAY OVERRUN THE FLOOR LEVEL CUT OFF POINT.

Apr 05, 2010 – BLUE BIRD HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 ALL AMERICAN TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 23 THROUGH NOVEMBER 19, 2009 EQUIPPED WITH CERTAIN RICON S SERIES AND K SERIES L-MODEL WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THERE IS A PROBLEM IN THE SOFTWARE THAT CONTROLS THE LIFT'S "UP" FUNCTION. IF THE "UP" SWITCH IS RELEASED BEFORE THE FLOOR LEVEL LIMIT SWITCH IS ACTIVATED, THE LIFT MAY CONTINUE ITS UPWARD TRAVEL FOR APPROXIMATELY 1 SECOND BEFORE STOPPING. THE CONTINUED UPWARD TRAVEL MAY OVERRUN THE FLOOR LEVEL CUT OFF POINT.

Mar 16, 2010 – BLUE BIRD HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 13, 2009 THROUGH FEBRUARY 26, 2010. THE WIRING HARNESS FOR THE REAR TAG LIGHT MAY BE OF INSUFFICIENT LENGTH RESULTING IN THE HARNESS BEING ROUTED IMPROPERLY AND EXPOSING THE CONNECTOR TO THE ENVIRONMENT WHICH COULD CAUSE THE CONNECTOR TO CORRODE. CORROSION COULD CAUSE A DIRECT SHORT IN THE TAG LIGHT CIRCUIT. A SHORT IN THE TAG LIGHT WIRING CIRCUIT, WHICH INCLUDES THE HEADLIGHT LOW BEAM CIRCUIT, COULD CAUSE SUDDEN LOSS OF HEADLIGHT LOW BEAMS.

Mar 02, 2010 – BLUE BIRD HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A NONCOMPLIANCE IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 ALL AMERICAN REAR ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 27, 2009 THROUGH JANUARY 25, 2010. ADHESIVE REQUIRED FOR INTERIOR REAR BULKHEAD PANELS WAS OMITTED. THE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH."