BLUE BIRD Recalls

Apr 10, 2008 – BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 2,129 MY 2006-2008 ALL AMERICAN, CONVENTIONAL, AND MICRO BIRD SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN MAY 3, 2005 AND FEBRUARY 15, 2008, EQUIPPED WITH RICON MODEL 1200, 2000, AND 5500 PLATFORM STYLE WHEEL CHAIR LIFTS. THESE BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, "PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS IN MOTOR VEHICLES." THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT DETECT THE PRESENCE OF A WHEELCHAIR OR MOBILITY AID USER IN A CERTAIN SPOT WITHIN THE DEFINED THRESHOLD AREA.

Feb 21, 2008 – BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 607 MY 2004-2007 ALL AMERICAN REAR ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES AND MY 2006-2007 XCEL 102 COMMERCIAL SERIES TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISC ENGINES. THE HIGH PRESSURE FUEL LINE MAY CRACK, ALLOWING HIGH PRESSURE DIESEL FUEL INTO THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Feb 07, 2008 – BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 45 MY 2008-2009 MICRO-BIRD SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 1, 2007 THROUGH JANUARY 28, 2008, MOUNTED ON GENERAL MOTORS CHASSIS WITH OPTION 3016-05 OR 30117-05 LED REAR TURN SIGNALS. THESE BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE FLASH RATE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 108, "LAMPS, REFLECTIVE DEVICES, AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT." THE SUBJECT LIGHTS OPERATE AT APPROXIMATELY 180 FLASHES PER MINUTE AND THE STANDARD REQUIREMENT IS 60-120 FLASHES PER MINUTE.

Dec 20, 2007 – ON CERTAIN MY 2005-2007 WANDERLODGE 450 LXI MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH ARVIN MERITOR AND TRW TIE ROD ENDS, THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES WERE PRODUCED WITH STEEL TUBING THAT DID NOT MEET DESIGN SPECIFICATIONS WHICH COULD RESULT IN FAILURE OF THE TIE ROD ASSEMBLY WHEN COACH MILEAGE APPROACHES OR EXCEEDS 100,000 MILES. ALSO THE FRONT AXLE CURB WEIGHT MAY EXCEED THE SPECIFIED 16,000 POUNDS WEIGHT RATING.

Dec 11, 2007 – CERTAIN 2006 AND 2007 MY BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN, CONVENTIONAL, AND MICRO BIRD SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 16, 2005 THROUGH AUGUST 29, 2006, EQUIPPED WITH MODEL 900 SERIES WHEELCHAIR LIFTS MANUFACTURED BY THE BRAUN CORPORATION. THE THRESHOLD WARNING SYSTEM MAY NOT ACTIVATE AS DESIGNED WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 404, PLATFORM LIFT INSTALLATIONS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES.

Dec 05, 2007 – CERTAIN MY 2001 THROUGH 2007 BLUE BIRD MICRO BIRD MODEL SCHOOL BUSES MOUNTED ON FORD DIESEL CHASSIS PRODUCED WITH AN OPTIONAL BATTERY COMPARTMENT MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 14, 2000, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 5, 2007. A FUSIBLE LINK PROVIDED ON THE FORD CHASSIS PDU POWER CABLE WAS REMOVED WHEN THE CABLE WAS SHORTENED TO ACCOMMODATE AN OPTIONAL BATTERY COMPARTMENT.

Nov 21, 2007 – ON CERTAIN MOTOR COACHES, THE CASTLE NUTS ON THE TIE ROD ENDS AND RELAY ROD STUDS IN THE INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES ARE LOOSE AND/OR NOT TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS. LOW AND/OR NO TORQUE ON A NUT CAN RESULT IN EXCESSIVE SLACK IN THE STEERING SYSTEM, THEREBY ALLOWING THE TAPERED JOINT TO MOVE AND SUBSEQUENTLY SHEAR THE COTTER PIN.

Oct 29, 2007 – CERTAIN 2008 BLUE BIRD MICRO BIRD SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 5 AND OCTOBER 15, 2007. THE SUBJECT BUSES WERE MANUFACTURED WITHOUT A REAR EMERGENCY DOOR AUDIBLE ALARM/BUZZER WHICH FAILS TO COMPLY WITH FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, 'BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE.'

Sep 07, 2007 – CERTAIN 2008 BLUE BIRD VISION SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JUNE 6 THROUGH SEPTEMBER 4, 2007. THE OIL FILL CAP MAY SEPARATE FROM THE OIL FILL TUBE ALLOWING ENGINE OIL TO BE EMITTED FROM THE TUBE. OIL COULD WET THE LEFT FRONT BRAKE SHOES/PADS RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKING CAPACITY.

Aug 30, 2007 – ON A CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH A CATERPILLAR C7 OR C9 ENGINE, A FUEL PUMP FAILURE WILL DILUTE THE ENGINE OIL WITH FUEL AND MAY CAUSE THE TURBOCHARGER TO FAIL AND CAUSE LOSS OF THROTTLE CONTROL WITH WARNING.