RoadVitals

2003 Blue Bird All American

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
2
Latest Jan 18, 2017
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
11
Latest Jun 9, 2009
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
1
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
0

Overview

Our database contains 2 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Blue Bird All American, most frequently naming the body & structure and fuel system categories. 11 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 1 NHTSA investigation names it; and 6 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure150.0%
  • Fuel system150.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

11 campaigns cover this model year

Recalls apply to specific vehicles, not to every vehicle of a model year. Check your VIN with NHTSA or your manufacturer's dealer to confirm whether a recall affects your vehicle.

Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

Jun 9, 2009
2,203 units potentially affected
The defect: BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 2,203 MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2010 ALL AMERICAN REAR ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL PLUG STYLE VANDAL LOCKS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 16, 2003 THROUGH APRIL 10, 2009. THE PLUG STYLE VANDAL LOCK IS NOT WIRED TO INHIBIT THE STARTER AT THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE VANDAL LOCK IS IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."
The risk: THE VEHICLES CAN BE STARTED AND DRIVEN EVEN WHEN AN OWNER MAY THINK THEY CANNOT.
The remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 25, 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-422-2242.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R09PEView on NHTSA.gov

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY

Aug 31, 2005
5,863 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN 2001 THROUGH 2006 MY BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN, TC2000, AND VISION TRANSIT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 5, 2001, AND JULY 15, 2005. THESE BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A BATTERY DISCONNECT SWITCH THAT HAS CONNECTIONS THAT MAY BE LOOSE ON THE BATTERY SWITCH STUDS CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR THE BUS TO SHUT DOWN WHILE IN OPERATION.
The risk: SHOULD THE BUS SHUT DOWN WHILE IN OPERATION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ITS OWNERS AND INSTRUCT THEM ON HOW TO REPAIR THE SWITCH. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 19 , 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R05KAView on NHTSA.gov

OTHER:SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM ASSEMBLY

May 20, 2005
3,121 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN BLUE BIRD 2002 THROUGH 2006 MY ALL AMERICAN, CONVENTIONAL, MINIBIRD, MICROBIRD, VISION, AND TC2000 SCHOOL BUSES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN STATES OTHER THAN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE MICROSWITCHES USED INTERNALLY TO POSITION THE SIGN IN THE OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS MAY MALFUNCTION, CAUSING THE SIGN TO OPEN OR CLOSE IN AN IMPROPER POSITION, OR TO NOT OPEN AT ALL.
The risk: SHOULD THE STOP ARM NOT PERFORM PROPERLY, A CHILD OR PEDESTRIAN MAY BE ENDANGERED BY PASSING MOTORISTS SHOULD THE MOTORIST NOT STOP AT THE CORRECT LOCATION.
The remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ALL ITS CUSTOMERS OF THIS CAMPAIGN. FOR THOSE BUSES OPERATED IN OR NEAR ANY OF THE STATES LISTED ABOVE, BLUE BIRD IS ENCOURAGING THE BUS OWNERS TO OBTAIN THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH. FOR THOSE BUSES OPERATED IN THE WARMER STATES, BLUE BIRD WILL REPLACE THE SWITCH UPON OWNER REQUEST. FOR THOSE CUSTOMERS WHO REQUEST THE REMEDY, BLUE BIRD WILL REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WITH A SWITCH PACK THAT IS NOT SENSITIVE TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER AND WILL INSPECT TO ENSURE THE MICROSWITCH HEATER WIRING IS PROPERLY CONNECTED. THE SAFETY IMPROVEMENT CAMPAIGN BEGAN ON AUGUST 12, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R05JWView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE05028ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SCHOOL BUS STALLS

Opened May 25, 2005
Closed Sep 27, 2005

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI RECEIVED A COMPLAINT FROM A SCHOOL BUS FLEET REPORTING THAT THREE SEPARATE BUSES HAD STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THEY WERE LOADED WITH CHILDREN.REPORTEDLY, EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE MASTER BATTERY SHUT-OFF SWITCH WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING DEFECTIVE.ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION TO GATHER SPECIFIC INFORMATION AND DETAILS INTO THESE ALLEGATIONS.AS A RESULT OF ODI?S INVESTIGATION, BLUE BIRD HAS AGREED TO INITATE A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE STANDARD NUT ON THE 10/32 STUD WITH A LOCKING NUT, CHECK FOR PROPER WIRING INSTALLATION , AND REPOSITION THE WIRES SO THAT THEY DO NOT STRESS THE STUD.A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED.BLUE BIRD'S ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION AND THEREFORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLESLed to recall 05V382000

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed Jan 18, 2017

MAIN FRAME RAILS CRACKING. FOUND BY MICHIGAN STATE POLICE INSPECTOR. BUS IS RED TAGGED AND RENDERED UNUSUABLE.

NHTSA ID
10946243
Incident
Jul 15, 2016
Fuel system
Filed Oct 6, 2006

WE PURCHASE 10 NEW BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL BUSES THROUGH OUR LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER, WITHIN A MONTH OF RECEIVING THE 10 UNIT THEY STAR PRESENTING CODE 368 RED FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER, WHITE SMOKE AND STALLING, THIS WAS REPORTER TO THE DISTRIBUTOR AND THEY REPLACED FUEL FILTERS AND SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS HUMIDITY IN THE ECM. THIS SAME CODE FAILURE HAS OVERCOME ALL OF OUR UNIT IN THE LAST PAST 3 YEARS TO THE EXTENT THAT NOW WE ARE FACED WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VP44 INJECTION PUMP A VERY COSTLY INVESTMENT FOR UNIT THAT HAVE EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE (AVERAGE OF 35,000 KMS). WE HAVE FOLLOWED A VERY STICK PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR ALL OUR UNIT ACCORDING TO THE MANUALS SUPPLIED THUS AFTER SUSPECTING THAT THERE COULD BE A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM WE STARTED INVESTIGATING OVER THE INTERNET AND EFFECTIVELY WE FOUND THAT THE CUMMINS 225 ISB MOTOR HAVE A HISTORY OF THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM WHICH RELATED BUT THERE ARE NON YET THAT COVER OUR UNIT, SO WE CONSIDER IT IMPORT THAT ALONG WITH ANY OTHERS OF THE SAME MALFUNCTIONING UNITS WE CAN HAVE A RECALL CONSIDERED. *JB

NHTSA ID
10170094
Incident
Oct 3, 2003

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

SM1905

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SM1905: Blue Bird Vantage Dash Fault Codes Website Blue Bird Vantage "Dash Fault Codes" website page has been updated to include additional new fault codes for all applicable system types (brake, engine, and transmission). Also, "Powertrain, Ford" has been added to the drop-down tab as a system type selection. "Powertrain Ford" system type is used to identify both Ford engine and transmission fault codes.

SM1608

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

New Blue Bird Support Center - Technical Bus Support: Dealer memo to announce the new on-line Blue Bird Support Center for technical bus support requests.

SM1601

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL

Blue Bird Troubleshooting Guides: Blue Bird announcement of the addition of troubleshooting guides for assisting in the service of the Blue Bird products. These troubleshooting guides are available on the Vantage website.

SU-S-0706

SEATS; SEATS:BARRIERS

BLUE BIRD: INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED REGARDING MAINTENANCE FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM SEAT FLOOR TRACKS. *PE

SB-S0701

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE:DIESEL

BLUE BIRD BUS: RE-ISSUE SERVICE UPDATE ENGINE COOLANTS. THE COOLING SYSTEM ON THE BUSES BE PROPERLY MAINTAINED AND MONITORED TO INSURE PROPER OPERATION OF YOUR COOLING SYSTEM. *PE

SB-S-70-LJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN; ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:RADIATOR ASSEMBLY

BLUE BIRD: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. INFORMATION ON EXCESSIVE CYCLING OF ENGINE COOLING FAN AND SHUTTER AND HOW TO INSTALL THERMO SWITCHES FOR COOLING SYSTEM AND CHARGE AIR SYSTEM. *PE

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Blue Bird All American by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
20192260
20180190
20170100
20161200
20153270
20140260
20131281
20120301
20110351
20100421
20093331
20084321
20074211
20062152
20051131
200410151
2003Viewing2111
20021141
20011141
20000160
19990160
1998190
1997030
1996060
19950110
1994090
1993071
19921691
1991091
1990091
19890102
1988082
1987051
1986050
1985030
1984040
1983030
1982050
1981040
1980030
1979010
1978010
1977020
1976030
1975020
1974050
1973040
1972040
1971040
1970030
1969040
1968040
1967020
1966010
1965010
1964010
1963010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.