RoadVitals

2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

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.
0
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.
3
Latest Apr 7, 2005
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.
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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.
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Overview

Our database contains no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series. 3 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 2 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.

Safety recalls

3 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
05V152000

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

Apr 7, 2005
486 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN 2001 THROUGH 2005 ALL AMERICAN, COMMERCIAL SERIES, AND Q-BUS SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH JOHN DEERE 8.1 CNG ENGINES. THE SUBJECT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH THE JOHN DEERE ENGINES MAY SURGE INAPPROPRIATELY DUE TO ERRACTIC OPERATION OF THE AIR THROTTLE IF THE ENGINE IS TAKEN FROM FULL TO ZERO LOAD.
The risk: UNEXPECTED ENGINE SURGE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY.
The remedy: JOHN DEERE WILL NOTIFY BLUE BIRD'S CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE ENGINES FREE OF CHARGE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT JOHN DEERE AT 1-800-JD-ENGINE.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R05JPView on NHTSA.gov
04V426000

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Aug 30, 2004
372 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN BLUE BIRD 1999-2005 ALL AMERICAN, TC/2000, MICRO BIRD, VISION, CONVENTIONAL, AND COMMERCIAL SERIES SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOC WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS AND MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 17, 1999, AND AUGUST 13, 2004. CERTAIN SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR TIE-DOWN SECUREMENT ASSEMBLIES P/N 8625-13. THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE LOAD PAWL NOT TO FULLY SEAT IN THE SPROCKET TEETH.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.
The remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 21, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR BUSES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R04JBView on NHTSA.gov
02V217000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

Aug 12, 2002
255 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN REAR ENGINE SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB ENGINES, THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE COMBUSTION AIR INTAKE GRID HEATER COULD CHAFE AGAINST ENGINE COMPONENTS.
The risk: THE HARNESS CAN WEAR THROUGH CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE GRID HEATER POWER SUPPLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
The remedy: OWNERS WILL BE CONTACTED AND ADVISED TO ADD A BRACKET TO SUPPORT THE HARNESS AWAY FROM THE ENGINE COMPONENTS. BLUE BIRD WILL PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT HARNESS FOR ANY HARNESSES FOUND ABRADED AND WILL REIMBURSE THE CUSTOMER FOR THE LABOR REQUIRED TO REPLACE THE HARNESS. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 29, 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.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R02GEView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

No owner complaints recorded for this model year

Either none have been filed with NHTSA, or this vehicle is too new for reports to have accumulated.

Manufacturer communications

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

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.

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 Commercial Series by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2004030—
2003Viewing030—
2002050—
2001060—
2000070—
19990110—
1998070—
1997030—
1996020—
1995010—

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.