RoadVitals

2011 Blue Bird Conventional

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

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.
1
Latest Nov 25, 2010
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.
1
Latest Apr 5, 2010
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
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.
0

Overview

Our database contains 1 NHTSA owner-reported complaint for the 2011 Blue Bird Conventional, most frequently naming the interior & seats and visibility categories. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 4 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.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Interior & seats150.0%
  • Visibility150.0%

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

1 campaign 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
10V133000

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Apr 5, 2010
1,622 units potentially affected
The defect: BLUE BIRD HAS NOTIFIED NHTSA ABOUT A DEFECT IN CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2008 THROUGH 2011 ALL AMERICAN, CONVENTIONAL, AND MICRO BIRD SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 13, 2007 THROUGH JANUARY 18, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH RICON MODEL S OR K SERIES PUBLIC USE WHEELCHAIR LIFTS. THE RESTRAINT BELT ON THESE LIFTS WAS DESIGNED TO PREVENT THE LIFT FROM MOVING, UNLESS THE TONGUE OF THE BELT IS FULLY ENGAGED AND LATCHED IN THE BUCKLE. RICON HAS DISCOVERED, HOWEVER, THAT IT IS POSSIBLE FOR THE OPERATOR TO INSERT THE BELT TONGUE INTO THE BUCKLE WITHOUT FULLY ENGAGING THE LATCHING MECHANISM. IN THIS CASE, THE RESTRAINT BELT WOULD APPEAR TO BE LATCHED, AND THE OPERATOR COULD RUN THE LIFT. IF THE RESTRAINT BELT TONGUE IS NOT FULLY ENGAGED INTO THE RESTRAINT BELT BUCKLE, AND LATCHED, THE LIFT MAY OPERATE WITH AN OCCUPANT ON THE PLATFORM.
The risk: THE USER OF THE LIFT COULD BE INJURED SHOULD THE LIFT MOVE WITHOUT THE RESTRAINT BELT PROPERLY BUCKLED.
The remedy: BLUE BIRD IS WORKING WITH RICON AND RICON WILL BE HANDLING THE REMEDY FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. PLEASE SEE RICON'S DEFECT REPORT 09E-060. RICON WILL PROVIDE CUSTOMERS WITH A WARNING DECAL AND A DVD-BASED TRAINING AID. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON APRIL 27, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT RICON AT 1-818-267-3000 OR BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R10THView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Interior & seatsVisibility
Filed Nov 25, 2010

I WOULD LIKE TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO THE NEW DESIGN OF SCHOOL BUS ESCAPE WINDOWS. IN THE PAST, THESE WINDOWS WERE HINGED ALONG THE TOP AND SWUNG OUT FROM THE BOTTOM. THE NEW DESIGN IS HINGED ON THE FRONT AND THEY SWING OUT FROM THE BACK. I FEEL THIS IS VERY DANGEROUS TO SMALL CHILDREN WHO MAY ACCIDENTALLY RELEASE THE LATCH, OPEN THE WINDOW AND FALL OUT OF THE SCHOOL BUS TO THE GROUND BELOW. I PICTURE A SCENARIO WHERE A SMALL CHILD MAY STAND UP ON THE SEAT ( YES I KNOW THEY SHOULD NOT STAND UP ON THE SEAT BUT YOU CANNOT PREDICT THE ACTIONS OF A 3 OR 4 YEAR OLD CHILD) TO TRY TO PUT THE WINDOW DOWN. HIS SLEEVE CATCHES THE RELEASE ON THE WAY UP AS IT DOES RELEASE FROM THE BOTTOM UP. THE WINDOW FLIES OPEN. HE IS ALREADY IN AN OFF BALANCE POSITION SO OUT THE WINDOW HE GOES. NOW LETS IMAGINE THE BUS IS GOING AROUND A CORNER. YES AN ALARM WILL SOUND ALERTING THE BUS DRIVER BUT DO YOU REALLY THINK HE WILL BE ABLE TO STOP AND SECURE THE BUS, GET OUT OF HIS SEAT AND GRAB THAT CHILD BEFORE HE GOES OUT THE WINDOW? I DON'T THINK SO. I WOULD SUGGEST THAT A TETHER BE ATTACHED TO THESE WINDOWS TO RESTRICT THE OPENING TO ABOUT 6". SAID TETHER WOULD BE DESIGNED TO BREAK @ A PREDETERMINED FORCE IN THE EVENT OF AN ACCIDENT. I AM JUST TRYING TO BE PROACTIVE HERE BUT IF IT TAKES A TRAGIC ACCIDENT TO OPEN UP SOME EYES THEN SO BE IT. I JUST HOPE IT DOES NOT HAPPEN ON ONE OF OUR BUSES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10367831
Incident
Nov 22, 2010

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.

S16YJ

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:EXHAUST SYSTEM

Service Bulletin: Rear Engine Exhaust Cables: Certain 2011 through 2017 model year Blue Bird All American Rear Engine school and non-school buses manufactured from June 5, 2010 through December 8, 2015, and equipped with optional Cummins diesel engines may experience failure of the 5.50? rear engine exhaust support cables. Instructions are provided for Service Bulletin S16YJ, Rear Engine Exhaust Cables.

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.

SU-1209

BLUE BIRD: PROCEDURE UPDATE INFORMATION BEING PROVIDED REGARDING REPLACEMENT OF HEATER RESISTORS ON ALL MODELS. NO MODEL OR MODEL YEARS LISTED. *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

Blue Bird Conventional by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2018200—
2017100—
2014020—
2011Viewing110—
2010130—
2009020—
2008170—
2007060—
2006080—
2005050—
2004070—
2003160—
2002070—
2001061—
2000021—
1999041—
1998040—
1997040—
1996050—
1995040—
1994040—
1993050—
1992050—
1991760—
1990050—
1989040—
1988030—
1987020—
1986010—
1985010—

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.