RoadVitals

2004 Blue Bird Commercial Series Recalls

Safety recall campaigns filed with NHTSA that 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
Recall campaignsA 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.
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Newest Apr 7, 2005
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
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Open 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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Recall campaigns

3 campaigns cover this model year — what the defect is, what it could cause, and what the remedy is

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

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING

Mar 1, 2005
416 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN 2002-2006 MY BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES, CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUSES, AND COMMERCIAL SERIES TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 21, 2002, AND FEBRUARY 24, 2005. THESE BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH WEBASTO COOLANT HEATERS, MODEL DBW 2010, ASSEMBLED WITH WEBASTO BURNER TUBES, P/N 303046/26533A MANUFACTURED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2002 AND FEBRUARY 2005. THE STAINLESS STEEL BURNER TUBE IS MADE OUT OF A MATERIAL THAT IS NOT TO SPECIFICATION AND COULD FAIL PREMATURELY.
The risk: SHOULD THE BURNER TUBE FAIL, THE COOLANT HEATER COULD OVERHEAT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
The remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE BURNER TUBES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R05JMView on NHTSA.gov

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

What a recall is

Safety recall
A 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.
Safety investigation
NHTSA 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.
Manufacturer communication
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.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources