Blue Bird ALL AMERICAN problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
36 owner complaints analyzed
185 distinct recall campaigns
17,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 1963 to 2019 model years. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Fuel System, Diesel is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 36 complaints (27.8%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 11 | 30.6% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 19.4% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 5.6% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 2.8% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 2.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Fuel System, Diesel | 10 |
| Seats | 4 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel | 2 |
| Equipment Adaptive/Mobility | 2 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
Fuel System, Diesel: 10; Seats: 4; Service Brakes, Air: 3; Structure:Body: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling:Engine:Diesel: 2; Equipment Adaptive/Mobility: 2; Fuel/Propulsion System: 2; Service Brakes: 2
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 5 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 0 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 2 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 5; 50,000 to 74,999: 0; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 2; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 15 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2000 | 1 |
| 2004 | 1 |
| 2005 | 1 |
| 2006 | 10 |
| 2007 | 4 |
| 2008 | 4 |
| 2010 | 1 |
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2015 | 4 |
| 2016 | 2 |
| 2017 | 3 |
| 2024 | 2 |
2000: 1; 2004: 1; 2005: 1; 2006: 10; 2007: 4; 2008: 4; 2010: 1; 2012: 1; 2014: 2; 2015: 4; 2016: 2; 2017: 3; 2024: 2
Pattern summary
Fuel System, Diesel leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 11 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10132276 · 2005-08-10 (August 10, 2005)
DT: THE CALLER RECEIVED RECALL ON CUMMINS ISB ENGINE THAT INVOLVED ENGINE STALLING AND FUEL SUPPLY TO THE ENGINE. BUT COULD NOT GET THE WORK DONE. THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF POWER. THE RECALLS INVOLVED FUEL PUMP AND FUEL PRESSURE SWITCH REPLACEMENT. THE CALLER HAD A TOTAL OF 6 RECALLS, AND FIRST TOOK ONE OF THE BUSSES TO THE FRIEGHTLINER DEALERSHIP, AND THEY REPAIRED ONE, BUT INSTRUCTED THE CONTACT NOT TO BRING ANYMORE BACK. ALSO, THE CONTACT CONTACTED CUMMINS, WHO REFERRED HIM TO THE PETERBUILT DEALER, BUT THEY ADVISED THE CALLER…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10132276 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10170094 · 2006-10-06 (October 6, 2006)
WE PURCHASE 10 NEW BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL BUSES THROUGH OUR LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER, WITHIN A MONTH OF RECEIVING THE 10 UNIT THEY STAR PRESENTING CODE 368 RED FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER, WHITE SMOKE AND STALLING, THIS WAS REPORTER TO THE DISTRIBUTOR AND THEY REPLACED FUEL FILTERS AND SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS HUMIDITY IN THE ECM. THIS SAME CODE FAILURE HAS OVERCOME ALL OF OUR UNIT IN THE LAST PAST 3 YEARS TO THE EXTENT THAT NOW WE ARE FACED WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VP44 INJECTION PUMP A VERY COSTLY INVESTMENT FOR UNIT THAT HAVE EXT…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10170094 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 552396 · 2000-05-25 (May 25, 2000)
BENDIX ABS ANTI-LOCK BRKING SYSTEM FAILED PRIOR TO RECALL NOTICE 00V-051. NLM
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 552396 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10227868 · 2008-05-15 (May 15, 2008)
PIN SECURING BRAKE PEDAL CORRODED CAUSING BRAKES TO LOCK UP. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 28,373 miles reported. Look up ODI 10227868 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10093811 · 2004-10-08 (October 8, 2004)
INTERMITTENT LOSS OF STEERING DURING NORMAL DRIVING CONDITIONS. *NM
Owner-reported narrative. 2,952 miles reported. Look up ODI 10093811 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10679879 · 2015-01-30 (January 30, 2015)
MY BUS DRIVER HAS A 2015 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN FE. HIS ROUTES INVOLVE MANY HALF-SHARP LEFT TURNS (+ ROADS). I HAVE NOTICED, WHEN HE TURNS THE STEERING WHEEL MAKES A MOANING SOUND. IT ISN'T LOUD, BUT IT IS ENOUGH TO NOTICE IT BEING HEARD UP IN THE FRONT. THE MOANING SOUND DOESN'T HAPPEN WHEN HE TURNS RIGHT. I WONDER IF THIS IS A PROBLEM WITH SOMETHING IN THE STEERING, OR WHAT, BUT IT IS CONCERNING ME A SMALL BIT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 3,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10679879 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10188269 · 2007-04-18 (April 18, 2007)
TL*THE SCHOOL BUS IS A 2004 BLUEBIRD A3FE. THE BUS WAS TAKEN TO THE CATERPILLAR DEALER BECAUSE OF A WARRANTY ISSUE ON THE ENGINE. THEY STATED THAT WHEN THE DRIVELINE ON THE TRANSMISSION WAS NOT WELDED PROPERLY. THEY STATED THE FOLLOWING TWO PARTS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED PART# 815782-5507 LOT # V 200303010307JLC PART# 905073-3306 LOT # V200303010311. THE ENGINE SIZE WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 36,500. THE TUBE AND FLANGE HAD TURNED WITHIN ITSELF. THE FLANGE WAS FITTED INSIDE THE TUBE AND WELDED. UPDATED
Owner-reported narrative. 36,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 10188269 at NHTSA ↗
Recalls by model year
All campaigns in the snapshot affecting each model year, including recalls announced years later.
Recall campaigns
Shared campaigns appear once in each affected model year.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2003 | 11 |
| 2004 | 15 |
| 2005 | 13 |
| 2006 | 15 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 32 |
| 2009 | 33 |
| 2010 | 42 |
| 2011 | 35 |
| 2012 | 30 |
| 2013 | 28 |
| 2014 | 26 |
| 2015 | 27 |
| 2016 | 20 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 19 |
| 2019 | 26 |
2003: 11; 2004: 15; 2005: 13; 2006: 15; 2007: 21; 2008: 32; 2009: 33; 2010: 42; 2011: 35; 2012: 30; 2013: 28; 2014: 26; 2015: 27; 2016: 20; 2017: 10; 2018: 19; 2019: 26
Year-by-year records
| Model year | Complaints | Recalls | Change in recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 0 | 1 | Not available |
| 1964 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1965 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1966 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1967 | 0 | 2 | +1 |
| 1968 | 0 | 4 | +2 |
| 1969 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1970 | 0 | 3 | -1 |
| 1971 | 0 | 4 | +1 |
| 1972 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1973 | 0 | 4 | 0 |
| 1974 | 0 | 5 | +1 |
| 1975 | 0 | 2 | -3 |
| 1976 | 0 | 3 | +1 |
| 1977 | 0 | 2 | -1 |
| 1978 | 0 | 1 | -1 |
| 1979 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1980 | 0 | 3 | +2 |
| 1981 | 0 | 4 | +1 |
| 1982 | 0 | 5 | +1 |
| 1983 | 0 | 3 | -2 |
| 1984 | 0 | 4 | +1 |
| 1985 | 0 | 3 | -1 |
| 1986 | 0 | 5 | +2 |
| 1987 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| 1988 | 0 | 8 | +3 |
| 1989 | 0 | 9 | +1 |
| 1990 | 0 | 9 | 0 |
| 1991 | 0 | 8 | -1 |
| 1992 | 0 | 9 | +1 |
| 1993 | 0 | 7 | -2 |
| 1994 | 0 | 8 | +1 |
| 1995 | 0 | 11 | +3 |
| 1996 | 0 | 6 | -5 |
| 1997 | 0 | 3 | -3 |
| 1998 | 1 | 9 | +6 |
| 1999 | 0 | 16 | +7 |
| 2000 | 0 | 16 | 0 |
| 2001 | 1 | 14 | -2 |
| 2002 | 1 | 14 | 0 |
| 2003 | 2 | 11 | -3 |
| 2004 | 10 | 15 | +4 |
| 2005 | 1 | 13 | -2 |
| 2006 | 2 | 15 | +2 |
| 2007 | 4 | 21 | +6 |
| 2008 | 4 | 32 | +11 |
| 2009 | 3 | 33 | +1 |
| 2010 | 0 | 42 | +9 |
| 2011 | 0 | 35 | -7 |
| 2012 | 0 | 30 | -5 |
| 2013 | 1 | 28 | -2 |
| 2014 | 0 | 26 | -2 |
| 2015 | 3 | 27 | +1 |
| 2016 | 1 | 20 | -7 |
| 2017 | 0 | 10 | -10 |
| 2018 | 0 | 19 | +9 |
| 2019 | 2 | 26 | +7 |