CERTAIN COACHES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL RESTROOM FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." THE PUSHOUT WINDOW LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AT THE REAR OF THE BUS, IS SUBSTANTIALLY OBSTRUCTED BY THE RESTROOM AND YET IT IS LABELED AS AN EMERGENCY EXIT.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, AN OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY EXIT THE VEHICLE.

Remedy: DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED TO REMOVE THE LABEL IDENTIFYING THE WINDOW AS AN EMERGENCY EXIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242, IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.

02V197000 · Unknown Or Other

Jul 23, 2002

ON CERTAIN TOUR TYPE COACHES EQUIPPED WITH PARCEL RACKS, IRREGULARITIES IN THE INSTALLATION OF THE FASTENERS USED TO RETAIN THE PARCEL RACKS TO THE COACH STRUCTURE COULD RESULT IN THE FASTENERS LOOSENING ALLOWING THE PARCEL RACKS TO FALL WITHOUT WARNING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IN THE EVENT THE FASTENERS BECOME DISLODGED AND THE RACKS SHOULD FALL WHILE THE PASSENGER SEAT IS OCCUPIED, PERSONAL INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT COULD OCCUR.

Remedy: DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED TO IMMEDIATELY INSTALL INTERIM REPAIR BOLTS THROUGH THE COACH ROOF BOW STRUCTURE ON THE AISLE SIDE OF THE FIRST TWO PARCEL RACK SECTIONS ON BOTH THE RIGHT AND LEFT SIDE PARCEL RACKS ON ALL AFFECTED COACHES. FINAL REPAIRS CAN THEN BE COMPLETED AT A LATER DATE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 24, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.

02V154000 · Power Train:automatic Transmission

Jun 13, 2002

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES AND TOUR COACHES, A 'CHECK TRANS' WARNING LIGHT WHICH IS REQUIRED BY ALLISON TRANSMISSION INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WAS OMITTED. IN THE EVENT THE TRANSMISSION SHIFT SELECTOR MALFUNCTIONS (LOOSES POWER OR SENDS ERRONEOUS SIGNALS TO THE TRANSMISSION ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT), THE COMPUTER WILL STOP ACCEPTING INPUT FROM THE ELECTRONIC SHIFT SELECTOR UNIT. IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE TRANSMISSION WILL BE HELD IN THE LAST VALID RANGE SELECTED. ALTHOUGH THE SINGLE DIGIT RANGE SELECTED DISPLAY ON THE SHIFT SELECTOR WILL BE BLANK OR A DASH, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE AWARE THAT A MALFUNCTION HAS OCCURRED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE DRIVER MAY SHIFT THE TRANSMISSION SELECTOR TO CHANGE DIRECTION AND THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT RECOGNIZE IT AND REMAIN IN THE ORIGINAL DIRECTION RESULTING IN THE POTENTIAL FOR A CRASH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A "CHECK TRANS" WARNING LIGHT ON THESE VEHICLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 31, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.

01V076000 · Service Brakes, Air

Mar 16, 2001

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES. THESE BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THE BRAKE SYSTEM DOES NOT HAVE AN R12-DC VALVE OR SECONDARY CONTROL LINE IN THE BRAKING SYSTEM.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THE ABSENCE OF THE VALVE AND SECONDARY CONTROL LINE COULD CAUSE INCREASED STOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL THE REQUIRED VALVE AND SECONDARY CONTROL LINE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 27, 2001. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-912-822-2242.

00V162000 · Service Brakes, Air:controls:foot Control/valve

Jun 12, 2000

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX AIR BRAKES. BENDIX CHANGED THE INTERNAL DESIGN OF THE QR1C RELAY VALVE BY ADDING A HOLE IN THE INTERNAL DIAPHRAGM. WHEN THE HOLE IN THE DIAPHRAGM ALIGNS WITH THE HOLE IN THE VALVE BODY, THE BRAKE APPLICATION TIME INCREASES.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, SUCH AS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, DRIVER ACTIVATES THE PARKING BRAKE BUT REMOVES FOOT FROM THE THREADLE VALVE, THE BUS COULD ROLL BEFORE THE PARKING BRAKE IS FULLY ENGAGED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIAPHRAGMS WITH HOLES WITH SOLID DIAPHRAGMS FOR THE QR1C VALVES.

99V330000 · Unknown Or Other

Nov 22, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT BUSES. THE FASTENERS USED TO ATTACH PARCEL RACKS TO BODY STRUCTURE MAY BECOME DISLODGED ALLOWING THE RACKS TO FALL WITHOUT WARNING.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: IF THE PARCEL RACKS FELL, A PASSENGER COULD BE INJURED.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE VEHICLES, BY REMOVING THE PARCEL RACK, ADDING A REINFORCEMENT ANGLE OVER JOINT, AND RE-INSTALLING THE PARCEL RACK USING RIVETS AND PK SCREWS.

99V162000 · Suspension

Jun 29, 1999

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH RIDEWELL TAG AXLES. SOME OF THE RIDEWELL TAG AXLE AND SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES HAVE THE BRAKE S-CAMS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSPECTING THE BRAKE S-CAM AND IF FOUND INCORRECT, INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECTION OF THE S-CAM INSTALLATION.

Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗

NHTSA investigations

PE03034 · Passenger Door Interlock Malfunction

Opened Jul 23, 2003 · Closed Dec 1, 2003

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED BASED ON A SINGLE, OHIO FLEETCOMPLAINT ON A MODEL YEAR 2000 BUS WITH 151,000 MILES.VRTC TEST ENGINEERS VISITED THE FLEET AND CONFIRMED THE EXISTENCE OF THE PROBLEM, A STUCK DOOR.THE SYTEM IS DESIGNED SUCH THAT WHEN THE DOOR SYSTEM IS ENGAGED, TWO STEEL PINS DROP IN PLACE FOR SAFETY PURPOSES.THE PINS SHOULD DISENGAGE WHEN THE BUS TRANSMISSION IS IN A NEUTRAL POSITION.THERE IS AN OVERRIDE SWITCH IN THE EVENT OF A FAILURE.VRTC TEST ENGINEERS CONFIRMED ON THE COMPLAINT BUS THAT THE PINS WOULD BECOME STUCK AND NOT DISENGAGE, ELIMINATING THAT DOOR AS AN EXIT, WHICH COULD BE A CONCERN IN AN EMERGENCY,AS A RESULT OF ODI'S INQUIRY, BLUEBIRD SUMBITTED INFORMATION WHICH INDICATED NO CONSUMER COMPLAINTS OR FIELD REPORTS RELATED TO THE ALLEGED DEFECT.BLUEBIRD DID IDENTIFY 301 WARRANTY CLAIMS. HOWEVER, THESE WERE NORMAL MAINTENANCE ITEMS SUCH AS REPAIRS FOR DAMAGE, MISSING TRIM, AND ROUTINE ADJUSTMENTS OF OPERATING AIR CYLINDERS, ELECTRONIC CONTROL SWITCHES, MANUAL DEADLBOLT LOCKS, ETC.ODI CONTACTED THREE FLEET SERVICE MANAGERS SERVICING 46 SUBJECT BUSES.THE FLEET MANAGERS REPORTED NO CONINUOUS PROBLEMS RELATED TO THE OPERATION OF THE ENTRY DOORS OF VEHICLES WITHIN THEIR FLEETS.ODI CONCLUDES THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT TREND EXISTS IN THE SUBJECT BUSES AND, THEREFORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION ON THE VEHICLES IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCS.

SQ01009 · Alternator Cable

Opened Sep 5, 2001 · Closed Dec 7, 2001

Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System

ALLEGED THAT THE ALTERNATOR WIRE FROM THE BATTERY EXPERIENCES FATIGUE AND SEPARATES.