RoadVitals

1998 Blue Bird TC1000

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.
2
Latest Dec 14, 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 no NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1998 Blue Bird TC1000. 2 safety recalls have 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.

Safety recalls

2 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
98V313000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FRONT UNDERHOOD

Dec 14, 1998
2,740 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT FORWARD AND REAR ENGINE BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB AND ISC ENGINES. THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE COMBUSTION AIR INTAKE GRID HEATER CAN CHAFE AGAINST THE ENGINE AND WEAR THROUGH CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE GRID HEATER POWER SUPPLY. THE SHORT CAUSES THE FUSIBLE LINK TO FAIL.
The risk: WHEN THE FUSIBLE LINK FAILS, INSULATION ON THE FUSIBLE LINK CAN IGNITE, CREATING A FIRE RISK IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.
The remedy: OWNERS WILL BE ADVISED TO REPLACE THE ORIGINAL GRID HEATER POWER SUPPLY HARNESS WITH FUSIBLE LINKS WITH A NEW GRID HEATER POWER SUPPLY HARNESS EQUIPPED WITH FUSES. IN ADDITION, A CLAMP WILL BE ADDED TO SUPPORT THE HARNESS AWAY FROM THE ENGINE COMPONENTS.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov
98V128000

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:DRUM

May 12, 1998
433 units potentially affected
The defect: VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: STEERING AXLE BRAKE DRUMS, PART NUMBER 61958B, USED IN AN AXLE ASSEMBLY COMBINATION SUPPLIED SOLELY TO BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY BY WEBB WHEEL. THE BRAKE DRUM IS OVERSIZED IN THE AREA ABOVE THE MOUNTING FLANGE AND PREVENTS THE DISC WHEEL FROM MOUNTING FLAT AGAINST THE BRAKE DRUM.
The risk: PROLONGED EXPOSURE CAN LEAD TO DISC WHEEL CRACKING AND SUBSEQUENT DISC WHEEL FAILURE. THIS COULD ALSO LEAD TO LOOSE FLANGE NUTS AND LOSS OF A WHEEL IF NOT DETECTED.
The remedy: WEBB WHEEL WILL REPLACE BOTH STEERING AXLE BRAKE DRUMS. ALSO, IF CONTACT IS PRESENT BETWEEN THE BRAKE DRUM AND THE DISC WHEEL, BOTH STEERING AXLE BRAKE DRUMS AND BOTH STEERING AXLE DISC WHEELS WILL BE REPLACED.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYView 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.

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.

S98CE

ADDENDUM TO S98CE ENGINE TEMPERATURE, OIL PRESSURE, FUEL SENDER AND MULTI-FUNCTION GAUGE FALSE WARNING. *TT

R98CH

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING

SUBJECT REGARDING RECALL R98CH CUMMINS ELECTRONIC ENGINES COMBUSTION AIR INTAKE GRID HEATER WIRING MODIFICATION. *TT

S98CE

BUSES MAY EXPERIENCE A FALSE WARNING LIGHT, ALARM AND RAPID SWITCHING OF MULTI-FUNCTION GAUGE ON DASH. *TT

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 TC1000 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
1999100—
1998Viewing020—
1997010—
1996010—

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.