2007 Blue Bird All American

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI RECEIVED NOTIFICATION FROM TWO FLEETS (TOTALING SEVEN COMPLAINTS) ALLEGING THE AIR LINES CONNECTING TO THE DASH AIR GAUGE WERE LEAKING AIR AND SETTING OFF THE LOW PRESSURE AIR BUZZER. DURING THE COURSE OF THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI INTERVIEWED THE INVOLVED FLEETS, CONDUCTED FIELD TRIPS TO EXAMINE SIMILAR BUSES, VISITED DEALERS AND REVIEWED DATA FURNISHED BY BLUE BIRD IN RESPONSE TO AN INFORMATION REQUEST.WHILE BIRD BIRD WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE A DEFINITIVE CAUSE FOR THE REPORTED FAILURES, THEY BELIEVE THE LOWNUMBER OF COMPLAINTS INDICATES AN ANOMALY AND THE LEAKS MAY HAVE BEEN CAUSED BY THE UNINTENTIONAL POSITIONING OF THE HOSE DURING DASH INSTALLATION.BLUE BIRD THEORIZES THAT AS THE 1/4 DASH GAUGE AIR LINE TUBING WAS INSTALLED BEHIND THE DASH, THE TUBING ENTERING THE PUSH-IN QUICK DISCONNECT FITTINGMAY HAVE BEEN POSITIONED AT AN ANGLE PUTTING STRESS ON THE PLASTIC MOVABLE PART OF THE FITTING. OVER TIME THIS STRESS MAY HAVE CAUSED THE PLASTIC PART OF THE FITTING TO DETERIORATE,RESULTING IN AN AIR LEAK.BASED ON THE RESULTS OF AN AIR BRAKE SYSTEM TEST CONDUCTED BY BLUE BIRD, COMPLETE DISCONNECTION OF THE ? AIR LINE AT THE DASH AIR GAUGE DOES NOT DEPLETE THE BRAKE AIR SYSTEM TO THE POINT WHERE THE BRAKES WILL NOT OPERATE AS DESIGNED. THE TEST SHOWED THAT EVEN WITH THE AIR LINE DISCONNECTED, NORMAL OPERATION OF THE BUS WILL CONTINUE TO CHARGE THE AIR SYSTEM RESERVOIR, ALLOWING FOR SAFE OPERATION UNTIL THE BUS CAN BE CHECKED. NEVERTHELESS, ALTHOUGH BLUE BIRD'S TEST DATA AND CUSTOMER INFORMATION CONFIRMS THERE IS NO LOSS OF BRAKES WHEN THE DASH AIR GAUGE LINES LEAK OR BECOME DISCONNECTED, BLUE BIRD INTENDS TO DEVELOP A SERVICE BULLETIN TO INSPECT THIS AIR LINE CONNECTION. THE SERVICE BULLETIN WILL BE SENT TO OWNERS OF ALL 2006 AND 2007 MODEL YEAR BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL BUSES.BASED ON THIS INFORMATION, A SAFETY RELATED DEFECT TREND DOES NOT EXIST AT THIS TIME AND FURTHER USE OF AGENCY RESOURCES IS NOT WARRANTED. THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY DEFECT EXISTS.THE AGENCY RESERVES THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED BY THE CIRCUMSTANCES. THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

BETWEEN 0920 AND 0940 HRS ON 26 MARCH 2016, BUS WAS TRANSPORTING 15 SOLDIERS TO VICTORY RANCH AND HEAR A LOUD NOISE. ONE SOLDIER STATED NOISE WAS A TIRE. DRIVER PULLED OFF ROAD AWAY FROM TRAFFIC AND NOTICED THE BRAKES WERE NOT WORKING PROPERLY. ANOTHER LOUD NOISE AND ONE OF THE SOLDIERS SAID IT WAS A FIRE. DRIVER STATED THE BUS FINALLY ALLOWED HIM TO BRAKE AND HE INSTRUCTED THE SOLDIERS TO EXIT THE BUS AND CALL 911. ...UPDATED 07/13/16 *BF ....UPDATED 07/26/16 *BF...UPDATED 08/15/16 *BF

NHTSA ID

10883231

Incident

Mar 26, 2016

Mileage

111,068 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 BLUEBIRD ALL AMERICAN BUS. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE SEAT STRUCTURE WAS UNRAVELING ON MULTIPLE SEATS. THE STRUCTURE AND FRAMEWORK WAS SOUND BUT THE METAL FRAMING WAS FRACTURED AND THE REAR SIDE OF THE SEATS HAD COLLAPSED. THE SEATING FOAM PADDING WAS NOT SAFELY SECURED DUE TO THE METAL FRAMING STRUCTURE WHICH WAS NOT SECURED. THE BUS WAS NOT TAKEN TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 20,000.

NHTSA ID

10575873

Incident

Sep 2, 2013

Mileage

20,000 mi

PIN SECURING BRAKE PEDAL TO MOUNT CORRODED AND CAUSED BRAKES TO LOCK UP. *TR

NHTSA ID

10227865

Incident

May 15, 2008

Mileage

25,777 mi

MY CHILD GOES TO FRANCIS ASBURY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AND RIDES BUS #128. THESE CHILDREN ARE PUT 3 TO A SEAT AND HANG IN THE AISLE. THE SITUATION HAS GOTTEN WORSE. YESTERDAY (JANUARY 16TH, 2008) THE BUS WAS SO OVERCROWDED, THE FIRST SEAT WAS SAT 4 TO A SEAT. WHEN IS IT SAFE TO SIT THAT MANY CHILDREN TOGETHER?! I CALLED THE TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT TO FIND OUT WHAT WAS BEING DONE TO FIX THIS PROBLEM AND WAS TOLD THIS WAS NOT A PROBLEM. THAT IT WAS ALRIGHT ACCORDING TO NHTSA STANDARDS. I JUST READ YUR STANDARDS AND IT STATES EXACTLY WHAT I THOUGHT. "OCCUPANT CRASH PROTECTION IS PROVIDED BY A PROTECTIVE ENVELOPE CONSISTING OF STRONG, CLOSELY-SPACED SEATS THAT HAVE ENERGY-ABSORBING SEAT BACKS. PERSONS NOT SITTING OR SITTING PARTIALLY OUTSIDE OF THE BUS SEATS WILL NOT BE AFFORDED THE OCCUPANT PROTECTION PROVIDED BY THE SCHOOL BUS SEATS." THIS IS A CONTINUING PROBLEM EVERY DAY THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED. IS THERE NOTHING YOU CAN DO OR DO I HAVE TO WAIT FOR AN ACCIDENT TO OCCUR BEFORE ANYONE WILL DO ANYTHING TO PROTECT THESE CHILDREN? *TR

NHTSA ID

10215203

Incident

Jan 17, 2008

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.

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.

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.

BLUE BIRD: CORRECT INFORMATION PROVIDED FOR THE FRONT HUB TORQUE SPECIFICATION, NOT FOUND IN MANUALS FOR CERTAIN BUSES FOR HUB AND ROTOR ASSEMBLY AND FRONT INSTALLATION. MODEL 2005-14 VISION, ALL-AMERICAN AND ACTIVITY. *PE

BLUE BIRD BUS: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR BUSES, ENGINE COOLANT MAY LEAK, DUE TO LOW COOLANT SENSOR, FROM SURGE TANK TO ENGINE HARNESS CONNECTOR AND WICK, THROUGH TO ENGINE ECM AND OTHER COMPONENTS, FROM HARNESS. *PE

BLUE BIRD: UPDATE INFORMATION ON SOME MODEL YEAR BUSES REGARDING THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL MODULES (ECM) RECALIBRATION OF ISB AND ISC ENGINES. *PE