RoadVitals

1999 Blue Bird Conventional 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.
4
Newest Aug 17, 2000
Carrying an NHTSA advisoryCampaigns where NHTSA told owners not to drive the vehicle, or to park it outside, until the repair is done.
0
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.
0
1 investigation on file

Recall campaigns

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

00V219000

STRUCTURE:BODY

Aug 17, 2000
25,839 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THESE BUSES FAIL TO MEET THE 60 PERCENT JOINT STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH."
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ROOF MAY NOT BE SUPPORTED SUFFICIENTLY, CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY TO BUS OCCUPANTS.
The remedy: OWNERS WILL BE CONTACTED AND ADVISED TO INSPECT EACH ROOF JOINT. OWNERS WILL INSTALL REPAIR RIVETS IN EACH JOINT FOUND TO HAVE INSUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF RIVETS IN EACH EXAMINED 8 INCH SECTION.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R00DNView on NHTSA.gov
99V018000

SEATS

Jun 15, 1999
41,260 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THE WALL SIDE ATTACHING BOLTS FOR SOME OF THE PASSENGER SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE SEAT LEDGE AND IN THE WRONG ATTACHING HOLE RESULTING IN WEAKENING OF THE SEAT LEDGE AT THE ATTACHMENT POINTS.
The risk: IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL CRASH, THE REAR ATTACHING BOLT OF THESE SEATS COULD PULL OUT OF THE SEAT LEDGE INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
The remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL FURNISH TO DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS, PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT ATTACHMENT AT THE WALL SIDE.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R99CNView on NHTSA.gov
99V031000

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

Feb 10, 1999
2,261 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES MOUNTED ON CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTION FOR THREE BATTERIES. THE BATTERY CABLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ROUTED PROPERLY ALLOWING THE CABLE TO BE CHAFED OR PINCHED.
The risk: THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE POSITIVE CABLE TO SHORT OUT CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
The remedy: DEALERS WILL PLUG THE HOLE IN THE BACK OF THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT THAT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE BATTERY HOLD DOWN CLAMP. A NEW HOLE WILL BE ADDED DIRECTLY BELOW THE REARMOST BATTERY CABLE HOLE AND THE POSITIVE CABLE WILL BE RE-ROUTED THROUGH THE NEW HOLE.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R99CLView on NHTSA.gov
99V017000

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

Jan 29, 1999
15 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES MOUNTED ON NAVISTAR CHASSIS. THE STANDARD CROSS VIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLIES INSTALLED ON THESE BUSES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 111, "REARVIEW MIRRORS."
The risk: THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE BUS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY TO PERSONS NEAR THE BUS.
The remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL FURNISH TO DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS, PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY TO MODIFY THE CROSS VIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLIES.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R99CMView 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.

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect, and it is not a recall.

PE07020ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SEAT TRACK CORROSION

Opened Apr 19, 2007
Closed Aug 6, 2007

ODI OPENED THIS PE AFTER RECEIVING THREE ALLEGATIONS OF SEAT TRACK CORROSION DISCOVERED BY FLEETS WHILE PERFORMING PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.SINCE OPENING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI HAS VISITED THE FLEETS, INSPECTED SUBJECT BUSES, INTERVIEWED SHOP PERSONNEL, REVIEWED BLUE BIRD'S RESPONSE TO OUR INFORMATION REQUEST. AND CONDUCTED A JOINT EVALUATION OF A COMPLAINT VEHICLE'S CONFORMANCE TO FMVSS 571.222, SCHOOL BUS SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION.THE TESTING WAS CONDUCTED AT THE VEHICLE RESEARCH & TEST CENTER, ANDA BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY TEST ENGINEER WAS IN ATTENDANCE. BASED ON THESE ACTIONS,NO SAFETY RELATED DEFECT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND THIS PE IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS AND WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.NEVERTHELESS, BLUE BIRD HAS DECIDED TO MAIL NON-SAFETY OWNER LETTERS TO THESUBJECT BUS OWNERS ADVISING THEM TO INSPECT THE ALUMINUM SEAT TRACKS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY REPAIR/REPLACEMENT.

SEATS

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources