RoadVitals

1997 Blue Bird Sbcv

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 Jun 19, 2001
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 Feb 23, 1998
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 1997 Blue Bird Sbcv, most frequently naming the body & structure category. 1 safety recall has been issued covering this model year; and 1 manufacturer communication is 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

  • Body & structure1100.0%

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
98V037000

VISIBILITY:REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES:EXTERIOR

Feb 23, 1998
564 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES MOUNTED ON FREIGHTLINER FS-65 CHASSIS. BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SYSTEM "B" MIRRORS DO NOT FULLY COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 111, "REARVIEW MIRRORS."
The risk: A 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: DEALERS WILL INSPECT THESE VEHICLES AND IF NECESSARY, CORRECT THE MIRROR INSTALLATIONS.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed Jun 19, 2001

COWLING SECTION WHERE BODY BRACKETS ARE MOUNTED TO FRAME IS CRACKING. IT IS FRONT PART OF BUS CHASSIS WHICH WAS MADE BY FORD. ALSO, IF CRACKED THOROUGHLY, IT COULD GIVE IN AND BODY WILL DROP ON FRAME. CONTACTED BLUEBIRD AND FORD, NO RESPONSE FROM EITHER. *AK THERE ARE A TOTAL OF 12 SCHOOL BUSES FROM PARKWAY SCHOOL DISTRICT THAT ARE EXPERIENCING THIS FAILURE. *SLC

NHTSA ID
890686
Incident
Nov 1, 2000

Manufacturer communications

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

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 Sbcv by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2008000—
2007000—
2006000—
2005000—
2004000—
2003000—
2002000—
2001000—
2000000—
1999000—
1998010—
1997Viewing110—
1996040—
1995070—
1994050—
1993030—
1992020—
1991010—
1990010—
1989010—
1988020—
1987010—
1986010—
1985010—
1984010—
1983010—
1982010—
1981010—
1980010—

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.