ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
2003 Blue Bird All American
Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data
Data refreshed
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.
Complaint activity over time
When owners filed reports about this model year
Not enough dated records to plot a meaningful trend — 2 months of data.
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.govELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
OTHER:SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM ASSEMBLY
Safety investigations
NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.
SCHOOL BUS STALLS
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.
Recent owner complaints
Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words
MAIN FRAME RAILS CRACKING. FOUND BY MICHIGAN STATE POLICE INSPECTOR. BUS IS RED TAGGED AND RENDERED UNUSUABLE.
- NHTSA ID
- 10946243
- Incident
- Jul 15, 2016
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.
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.
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.
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.
SEATS; SEATS:BARRIERS
BLUE BIRD: INFORMATION IS BEING PROVIDED REGARDING MAINTENANCE FOR VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH ALUMINUM SEAT FLOOR TRACKS. *PE
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
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
| Year | Complaints | Recalls | Investigations | Issue Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | 2 | 26 | 0 | — |
| 2018 | 0 | 19 | 0 | — |
| 2017 | 0 | 10 | 0 | — |
| 2016 | 1 | 20 | 0 | — |
| 2015 | 3 | 27 | 0 | — |
| 2014 | 0 | 26 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 1 | 28 | 1 | — |
| 2012 | 0 | 30 | 1 | — |
| 2011 | 0 | 35 | 1 | — |
| 2010 | 0 | 42 | 1 | — |
| 2009 | 3 | 33 | 1 | — |
| 2008 | 4 | 32 | 1 | — |
| 2007 | 4 | 21 | 1 | — |
| 2006 | 2 | 15 | 2 | — |
| 2005 | 1 | 13 | 1 | — |
| 2004 | 10 | 15 | 1 | — |
| 2003Viewing | 2 | 11 | 1 | — |
| 2002 | 1 | 14 | 1 | — |
| 2001 | 1 | 14 | 1 | — |
| 2000 | 0 | 16 | 0 | — |
| 1999 | 0 | 16 | 0 | — |
| 1998 | 1 | 9 | 0 | — |
| 1997 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1996 | 0 | 6 | 0 | — |
| 1995 | 0 | 11 | 0 | — |
| 1994 | 0 | 9 | 0 | — |
| 1993 | 0 | 7 | 1 | — |
| 1992 | 16 | 9 | 1 | — |
| 1991 | 0 | 9 | 1 | — |
| 1990 | 0 | 9 | 1 | — |
| 1989 | 0 | 10 | 2 | — |
| 1988 | 0 | 8 | 2 | — |
| 1987 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — |
| 1986 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1985 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1984 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1983 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1982 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1981 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1980 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1979 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1978 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1977 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1976 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1975 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1974 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — |
| 1973 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1972 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1971 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1970 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — |
| 1969 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1968 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — |
| 1967 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 1966 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1965 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1964 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 1963 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
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.