RoadVitals

2007 Blue Bird Vision

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.
3
Latest May 21, 2014
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.
21
Latest Apr 27, 2020
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.
4
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 3 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2007 Blue Bird Vision, most frequently naming the body & structure, brakes and other / unspecified categories. 21 safety recalls have been issued covering this model year; 4 NHTSA investigations name it; and 20 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

  • Body & structure133.3%
  • Brakes133.3%
  • Other / unspecified133.3%

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

21 campaigns cover this model year

View all 21

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
20V234000

PARKING BRAKE

Apr 27, 2020
2,264 units potentially affected
The defect: Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2006-2021 Vision and 2007-2013 All American school buses. The floor-mounted parking brake may fail to hold the vehicle stationary on an incline when the vehicle is loaded to its maximum weight, due to an insufficient application force. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems."
The risk: A parking brake system that is set to an insufficient application force may result in an increased possibility of unintended vehicle movement, which increases the risk of a crash.
The remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the floor mounted park brake application force hand lever assembly and correct the application force, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin June 24, 2020. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R20AO-SB.
Blue Bird Body CompanyManufacturer number R20AO-SBView on NHTSA.gov
15V731000

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Nov 4, 2015
90 units potentially affected
The defect: Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 All American and Vision and 2007-2011 Micro Bird transit buses equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured January 1, 2006, to August 25, 2014 by the Ricon Corporation. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.
The risk: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.
The remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884.
Blue Bird Body CompanyManufacturer number R15YI-NSBView on NHTSA.gov
15V730000

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Nov 4, 2015
5,114 units potentially affected
The defect: Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 All American, Vision, 2007-2011 Micro Bird, and 2007-2008 Conventional school buses, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured January 1, 2006, to August 25, 2014 by the Ricon Corporation. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.
The risk: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.
The remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884.
Blue Bird Body CompanyManufacturer number R15YI-SBView on NHTSA.gov

Safety investigations

NHTSA inquiries naming this vehicle. An investigation is not a finding of a defect.

PE09029ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ASSIST STEERING

Opened Jun 5, 2009
Closed Aug 28, 2009

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI RECEIVED SIX FLEET COMPLAINTS (19 BUSES TOTAL) ALLEGING REPEATED ISSUES OF THE POWER STEERING RESERVOIR GASKET FAILING.IT WAS ALLEGED THAT THE DEGRADED GASKET FELL INTO THE POWER STEERING PUMP, RESULTING IN AN INCREASEDSTEERING EFFORT.ODI IS AWARE OF TWO BUSES THAT, WITHOUT WARNING, LOST POWER ASSIST STEERING DURING NORMAL DRIVING OPERATIONS. REPORTEDLY, THE POWER STEERING GASKETS WERE MANUFACTURED WITH INCORRECT MATERIAL SUBSTITUTED BY ONE OF THE GASKET MATERIAL SUPPLIERS. AFTER ANEVALUATION INTO THIS ISSUE, BLUE BIRD AUTHORIZED A SAFETY RECALL. THE ORIGINAL POWER STEERING LID GASKET WILL BE REPLACED WITH NEW GASKET MATERIAL.THE ACTION TAKEN BY BLUE BIRD RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION.ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

STEERING:HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEMLed to recall 09V284000
PE09001ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

ENGINE COMPARTMENT FIRE

Opened Jan 5, 2009
Closed Mar 4, 2009

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI LEARNED ABOUT A FIREALLEGED TO HAVE STARTED FROM THE MAIN BATTERY CABLE CHAFING AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE.THE SUBJECT BUS WAS A NEW 2008 MODEL AND THE BATTERY CABLE RUNS FROM THE ELECTRICAL JUNCTION BLOCK TO THE BATTERY.THE PROBLEM ONLY AFFECTS BUSES EQUIPPED WITH THE CATERPILLAR ENGINE.SUBSEQUENT FIELD INSPECTIONS FOUND BATTERY CABLES ON TWO OTHER BUSES SHOWING SIGNS OF ABRASIONAGAINST THE REAR OF THE ENGINE.ON FEBRUARY 16, 2009, BLUE BIRD FILED A SAFETY RECALL TO INSPECT ALL INVOLVED BUSES. BLUE BIRD WILL INSPECT THE BATTERY POWER CABLES AT THE REAR OF THE ENGINE ON THE SUSPECT BUSES AND CORRECT THE PROBLEM AS NECESSARY.THIS RECALL ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLESLed to recall 09V055000
PE08038ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE CHAFING/LEAKING

Opened Jun 4, 2008
Closed Aug 4, 2008

IN APRIL, 2008, ODI RECEIVED A LETTER FROM THE MISSOURI STATE HIGHWAY PATROL ALLEGING THAT THEIR FIELD INSPECTORSWEREFINDING HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSES THAT WEREBEING CUT OR CRUSHED BY THE SHARP EDGES OF THE BUS BODY AT THE FIREWALL.THEY ALSO SUPPLIED INFORMATION ON ONE BUS THAT EXPERIENCED TOTAL BRAKE LOSS DUE TO THE BRAKE HOSE BEING CUT. FURTHER FIELD WORK BY ODI INCREASED THENUMBER OF COMPLAINTS TO A TOTAL OF SEVEN.AFTER DISCUSSIONS WITH ODI AND FURTHER REVIEW OF FIELD INCIDENTS, BLUE BIRD HAS DECIDED TO INITIATE A SAFETY RECALL TO INSPECT, REPLACE AND OR REPOSITION THE BRAKE HOSES OF CONCERN. THIS RECALL ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION. ACCORDINGLY, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGSLed to recall 08V312000
PE06026ClosedPreliminary Evaluation

OVER STRESSED BATTERY CABLES

Opened Jul 10, 2006
Closed Aug 31, 2006

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI WAS NOTIFIED BY THE GSA AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING DIVISION THAT THEY HAVE HAD THREE INCIDENTS WHERE ABATTERY CABLE TERMINAL END FAILED. GSA REPORTED THE POSITIVE BATTERY CABLE AS BEING TOO SHORT AND BEING STRESSED DURING NORMAL OPERATION RESULTING IN A COMPLETE SEPARATION.THIS COULD LEAD TO AN ENGINE SHUT DOWN OR POSSIBLY A THERMAL EVENT IF THECABLE SHORTS TO A GROUND SOURCE UPON FAILURE.BLUEBIRD HAS FILED A SAFETY DEFECT TO RESOLVE THE ISSUE. THE ORIGINAL CABLE WILL BE REMOVED AND REPLACED WITH A LONGER BATTERY CABLE. THE AMMETER SHUNT MOUNTING WILL ALSO BE UPGRADED ON ALL BUSES DELIVERED THROUGH JULY 12, 2006.THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSE.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLESLed to recall 06V261000

Recent owner complaints

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

Body & structure
Filed May 21, 2014

BODY STRUCTURE BROKEN OR CRACKED AT A-PILLAR AND SEVERAL OTHER LOCATIONS ON LEFT SIDE. ROOF BOW CRACKED AT SIDE EMERGENCY EXIT AT LEFT SIDE. REAR ROOF CAP CRACKED AND PULLING AWAY FROM BODY AT RIVETS. BODY SEEMS TO FLEX AND TWIST CAUSING BREAKAGE ALONG THE BOTTOM OF WINDOWS ALONG LEFT SIDE. WE HAVE 2 VEHICLE OF THE SAME YEAR, MAKE AND MODEL AND BOTH HAVE DONE THE SAME THING AT ABOUT THE SAME MILEAGE. BOTH VEHICLES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED AT DEALER, WAS VERY EXPENSIVE ($21,000.00) FOR REPAIRS. COULD POSSIBLY CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY IN A ROLLOVER TYPE ACCIDENT. I KNOW OF AT LEAST 4 OTHER OWNERS WITH THE SAME ISSUES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10593162
Incident
Jan 2, 2014
Mileage
59,000 mi
Brakes
Filed Apr 4, 2008

2007 AND NEW BLUEBIRD BUSES WITH BAD BRAKE HOSE. CONSUMER STATES THAT THIS HOSE COULD BE CRUSHED OR CUT BY THE SHARP EDGE OF THE BUS BODY. HE STATES THAT THIS WOULD CAUSE THE BUS TO BE UNSAFE TO USE. *KB THE CONSUMER STATED THE BUS WAS MANUFACTURED WITH THE BRAKE HOSE TOE-WRAPPED TO THE TRANSMISSION FILL TUBE. *JB

NHTSA ID
10223928
Incident
Jan 1, 1901
Other / unspecified
Filed Feb 29, 2008

I AM A ALASKA STATE SCHOOL BUS INSPECTOR. I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW IF YOU HAVE HAD ANY REPORTS ON THE RICON LIFTS MODELS SS5510 UPRIGHT ARMS BENDING AND OR CRACKING. DURING OUR INSPECTIONS IN THE FALL OF 07 AND NOW OUR INSPECTIONS SO FAR IN 08 , WE ARE FINDING A OVER WHELMING AMOUNT OF THESE ARMS BENT AND OR CRACKED. THEY ARE BEING REPLACED AT NO COST BY RICON, HOWEVER, IF ONE OF THESE ISSUES IS NOT NOTICED IN TIME DURING OPERATION THE ARM COULD BRAKE INTO, DUMPING THE OCCUPANT ONTO THE GROUND OR PAVEMENT. THIS HAS NOT HAPPENED IN OUR STATE AS FAR AS I KNOW YET. I AM CONCERNED THAT THIS COULD HAPPEN AT ANY TIME. THEY ARE REPLACING THE ARMS WITH THE SAME ONES ISSUED WITH THE UNITS WHEN NEW. THEY (RICON) SAY IT IS JUST BEING REPORTED WITHIN OUR STATE. MAYBE IT IS A DEMOGRAPHIC ISSUE, NEVER THE LESS , SHOULD THEY (RICON) NOT COME UP WITH A FIX FOR THE PROBLEM?. PLEASE HELP ME. DANNY *TR

NHTSA ID
10219730
Incident
Feb 29, 2008

Manufacturer communications

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

SM1905

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

SM1905: Blue Bird Vantage Dash Fault Codes Website Blue Bird Vantage "Dash Fault Codes" website page has been updated to include additional new fault codes for all applicable system types (brake, engine, and transmission). Also, "Powertrain, Ford" has been added to the drop-down tab as a system type selection. "Powertrain Ford" system type is used to identify both Ford engine and transmission fault codes.

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.

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-1503

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

BLUE BIRD: CORRECT INFORMATION PROVIDED FOR THE FRONT HUB TORQUE SPECIFICATION, NOT FOUND IN MANUALS FOR CERTAIN BUSES FOR HUB AND ROTOR ASSEMBLY AND FRONT INSTALLATION. MODEL 2005-14 VISION, ALL-AMERICAN AND ACTIVITY. *PE

RC-R-06-KW

BLUE BIRD: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. ON SOME BUSES A SAFETY ISSUE EXIST REGARDING THE INSTALLATION AND REPLACING OF POWER CABLE AND SHUNT BASE DUE TO BREAKAGE. *PE

SB-S-10-SR

EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS; SEATS

BLUE BIRD BUS: SEE DOCUMENT SEARCH BUTTON FOR OWNER LETTER. ON CERTAIN MODEL YEAR BUSES, WITH TRACK MOUNTED MODULAR SEATS, A DECAL MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED WITH INCORRECT TRACK SEATING INSTRUCTIONS. *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 Vision by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
20190411—
20180351—
20171281—
20162271—
20154270—
20140220—
20132250—
20121190—
20110220—
20102251—
20096284—
20081305—
2007Viewing3214—
20060175—
20051154—
20040173—
2003000—
2002000—
2001000—

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.