RoadVitals

1999 Blue Bird TC2000

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.
5
Latest May 9, 2006
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.
15
Latest Feb 22, 2005
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.
1

Overview

Our database contains 5 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 1999 Blue Bird TC2000, most frequently naming the interior & seats, electrical and engine categories. 15 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; and 3 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 & seats240.0%
  • Electrical120.0%
  • Engine120.0%
  • Fuel system120.0%

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

15 campaigns cover this model year

View all 15

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
05V062000

FUEL SYSTEM, DIESEL

Feb 22, 2005
18,891 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2002 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN, TC2000 SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES, AND COMMERCIAL SERIES BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB DIESEL ENGINES. THE FUEL PUMP COULD FAIL TO TRANSFER FUEL APPROPRIATELY CREATING AN ENGINE STALL CONDITION.
The risk: SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE, A POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
The remedy: CUSTOMERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY CUMMINS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE FUEL LIFT PUMP REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-DIESELS.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R05JLView on NHTSA.gov
03V363000

STRUCTURE:BODY

Oct 8, 2003
8,088 units potentially affected
The defect: CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH." ONE OR MORE OF THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE DRIVER'S PLATFORM TO THE FLOOR STRUCTURE WAS OMITTED.
The risk: THE REAR OF THE DRIVER'S PLATFORM MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RETAINED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO PASSENGERS.
The remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSPECT AND REPAIR THE AFFECTED UNITS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYManufacturer number R03GZView on NHTSA.gov
03V085000

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

Mar 28, 2003
4,302 units potentially affected
The defect: ON CERTAIN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB 6 CYLINDER ENGINES, THE LOWER ALTERNATOR SUPPORT BRACE OR MOUNTING HARDWARE CAN LOOSEN OR BREAK WHICH WILL ALLOW THE ALTERNATOR TO DROP ONTO THE ENGINE.
The risk: IN THIS EVENT, THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS MAY BE DAMAGED AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE MAY EXIST.
The remedy: CUMMINS WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER ALTERNATOR SUPPORT BRACKETS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-343-7357 OR BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANYView on NHTSA.gov

Recent owner complaints

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

Interior & seats
Filed May 9, 2006

I AM A SCHOOL BUS DRIVER FOR WEST MILFORD BOARD OF EDUCATION. DURING THE PAST SCHOOL YEAR WHENEVER MY BUS WAS IN FOR SERVICE I WAS TO DRIVE BUS 206. THIS BUS HAS A DEFECT WITH THE DRIVERS SEAT IT HAS AN AIR SEAT WHICH BOUNCES YOU ALL OVER THE PLACE AND SLAMS YOU BACK DOWN CAUSING YOU TO BANG VERY HARD INTO THE FLOOR AND THEN SPRINGS YOU BACK UP LIKE A JACK IN THE BOX. THE ONLY WAY I CAN DRIVE THIS BUS IS TO DRIVE WITH ALL THE AIR OUT OF THE SEAT AND THEN I HAVE TO SIT ON PILLOWS TO BE ABLE TO SEE OUT OF THE WINDOW. HOWEVER, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO HOLD ONTO THE STEERING WHEEL AND NOT JERK IT WHEN THIS HAPPENS. EVERYONE DRIVES THIS SPARE BUS VERY SLOWLY BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, BUT IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW SLOW YOU GO OR HOW SMALL THE BUMPS IN THE ROAD ARE THE SEAT STILL THROWS YOU AROUND. THIS SEAT HAS BEEN LIKE THIS FOR A VERY LONG TIME, BUT NO-ONE WILL DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. I FIND THIS SEAT TO BE VERY DANGEROUS AS IT COULD CAUSE AN ACCIDENT AT ANY TIME OR INJURY TO THE DRIVER. THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN REPORTED TO THE OFFICE SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST AND BY SEVERAL DIFFERENT DRIVERS, BUT NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT, AND IF WE TRY TO REFUSE TO DRIVE IT WE ARE GIVEN A HARD TIME ABOUT IT BY THE SUPERVISOR AND TOLD THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT AND THEN SENT HOME WITHOUT PAY FOR THE DAY. *NM

NHTSA ID
10157052
Incident
May 9, 2006
Interior & seats
Filed May 9, 2006

I WORK FOR THE WEST MILFORD BD. OF EDUCATION DRIVING A SCHOOL BUS. MY REGULAR BUS WAS OUT OF SERVICE AND I WAS ASSIGNED BUS 206 WHICH HAS A DRIVER SEAT DEFECT. IT HAS BEEN REPORTED NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST YEAR BY MANY OTHER DRIVERS, HOWEVER, NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE ABOUT IT. MANAGEMENT AND MECHANICS HAVE GIVEN A RANGE OF ANSWERS SUCH AS THEY ARE FULLY AWARE OF THE PROBLEM, BUT IT CAN'T BE FIXED, TO IT HAS BEEN FIXED, TO THERE IS NOTHING WRONG WITH IT. THE SEAT WHICH IS AN AIR SEAT, VIOLENTLY BOUNCES UP AND DOWN SLAMMING YOU ON THE FLOOR OF THE BUS CAUSING LOSS OF VISION OUT OF WINDSHIELD FOR A SECOND THEN JERKING YOU UP AGAIN AND YOU MUST HANG ON SO TIGHTLY TO THE STEERING WHEEL THAT YOU JERK THE WHEEL AND COULD POSSIBLY VEER OFF THE ROAD OR INTO THE OTHER LANE OF TRAFFIC. THE SEAT BELT GIVES NO SUPPORT BECAUSE IT IS NOT ATTACHED TO THE FLOOR, IT IS ATTACHED DIRECTLY TO THE SEAT. AS A RESULT OF MY DRIVING THIS BUS I AM NOW OUT ON WORKMANS COMPENSATION BECAUSE MY ROTATOR CUFF WAS INJURED FROM THIS BUS. SOME DRIVERS HAVE WRITTEN STATEMENTS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM, HOWEVER OTHERS WILL NOT BECAUSE THEY FEAR RETRIBUTION FROM MANAGEMENT. *NM

NHTSA ID
10157049
Incident
Apr 20, 2006
Engine
Filed Sep 28, 2005

DT : THE CONSUMER RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FOR THE CUMMINGS ENGINE. HAS TO TAKE ONE BUS AT A TIME TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER HAS SIXTEEN BUSES. THE ABOVEMENTIONED BUS HAS BEEN THERE SINCE SEPTEMBER 9, 2005, AND HAS BEEN THERE FOR TWENTY DAYS. HAS THIRTEEN MORE BUSES, AND THE CONSUMER NEEDS TO TAKE THEM TO DEALER FOR RECALL REPAIRS . THE DEALER SAYS THEY LOST THE FUEL CODE AND THEY CANNOT GET THE FUEL CODE FROM THE DISTRIBUTOR. THE CONSUMER CONTACTED THE MANUFACTURER, AND THEY ARE SAYING THE SAME THING. *AK

NHTSA ID
10137958
Incident
Sep 9, 2005
Fuel system
Filed Jul 21, 2005

1. EVENTS LEADING TO FAILURE WERE NONE, BUS WAS RUNNING FINE AND JUST STOPPED 2. THE SCHOOL BUS WAS BEING USED ON A REGULAR ROUTE AND JUST QUIT RUNNING WHILE GOING DOWN THE ROAD WITH NO WARNING. 3. WE HAD TO REPLACE BOTH THE ELECTRIC LIFT PUMP AS WELL AS VP-44 INJECTOR PUMP VEHICLE IS NOW UNDER RECALL #05E-007 FOR REPLACEMENT OF LIFT PUMP AND POSSIBLY THE VP-44 INJECTOR PUMP. MY COMLAINT REVOLVES AROUND THE FACT THAT CUMMINS WILL NOT REIMBURSE THE SCHOOL SYSTEM FOR THE VP-44 PUMP THAT WAS REPLACED ON 11/15/2004 DUE TO FAILURE THAT I FEEL IS DIRECTLY RELATED TO THE CURRENT RECALL. I FEEL THAT THEY SHOULD REIMBURSE USE FOR PARTS THAT WERE PUT ON THE VEHICLE TO CORRECT PROBLEM THAT THEY ARE CURRENTLY FIXING. JUST BECAUSE OUR PROBLEM OCCURRED 7 MONTHS PRIOR TO THE OFFICIAL RECALL SHOULD NOT ALLOW THEM TO GET OUT OF THEIR RESPONSIBILITY FOR REPLACMENT.

NHTSA ID
10129537
Incident
Nov 15, 2004
Mileage
83,924 mi
Electrical
Filed Apr 9, 2003
Fire reported

ON APRIL 18, 2002 BLUE BIRD BUS EXPERIENCED AN EXTREMELY BAD ELECTRICAL FIRE DUE TO THE BREAKING OF THE ALTERNATOR SUPPORT BRACE. THIS INCIDENT CAUSED APPROXIMATELY $20,000.00 WORTH OF DAMAGE TO THE BUS. THE BUS WAS RUNNING ITS AFTERNOON ROUTE AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 15 STUDENTS ON IT AT THE TIME AND THEY EVACUATED SAFELY. WE HAVE SINCE RECEIVED A RECALL NOTICE FROM CUMMINS ON THIS AND I FELT COMPELLED TO REPORT IT SINCE APPARENTLY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS. I REPORTED IT TO BLUE BIRD AND CUMMINS AT THE TIME AS I WAS EXTREMELY CONCERNED AND WANTED TO MAKE SURE THIS WAS NOT A DEFECT.*JB

NHTSA ID
10014194
Incident
Apr 18, 2002
Mileage
46,350 mi

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.

S01EP

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING:FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS

SUBJECT BUSES MAY HAVE HAD CONCERNS REGARDING FUSES BLOWING FREQUENTLY IN THE FRONT HEATER CIRCUIT. *TT

S9901

ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:COOLING SYSTEM:FAN

CONCERNS WITH FAST CYCLING OF COOLING SYSTEM FAN. *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 TC2000 by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2005011—
2004051—
2003861—
20020111—
20010121—
20001120—
1999Viewing5150—
19980191—
1997082—
19963130—
19957180—
19949150—
19932151—
19921153—
19910121—
19901133—
19891143—
19880113—
1987011—

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.