Blue Bird VISION problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
23 owner complaints analyzed
140 distinct recall campaigns
23,311 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2004 to 2019 model years. Data snapshot: . 17 complaints include usable failure mileage.
This selection has limited data. It remains available for lookup but is excluded from search indexing.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 2 of 23 complaints (8.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Braking behavior | 10 | 43.5% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 4.3% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 4.3% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 4.3% |
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 |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 2 |
| Engine | 2 |
| Exterior Lighting | 2 |
| Fuel System, Diesel | 2 |
| Service Brakes | 2 |
| Service Brakes, Air | 2 |
| Structure:Body | 2 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System | 1 |
Electrical System: 2; Engine: 2; Exterior Lighting: 2; Fuel System, Diesel: 2; Service Brakes: 2; Service Brakes, Air: 2; Structure:Body: 2; Engine And Engine Cooling:Cooling System: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 9 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 4 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 3 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 0 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 1 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 9; 25,000 to 49,999: 4; 50,000 to 74,999: 3; 75,000 to 99,999: 0; 100,000 to 149,999: 1; 150,000 and above: 0
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (9). 6 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 |
|---|---|
| 2008 | 3 |
| 2009 | 3 |
| 2010 | 4 |
| 2012 | 2 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2014 | 2 |
| 2017 | 2 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 |
2008: 3; 2009: 3; 2010: 4; 2012: 2; 2013: 1; 2014: 2; 2017: 2; 2018: 4; 2020: 1; 2022: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Braking behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 1 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 10219730 · 2008-02-29 (February 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 …
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10219730 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10223928 · 2008-04-04 (April 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
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10223928 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10450994 · 2012-03-08 (March 8, 2012)
VOQ ENTERED BY MHDVD ON 8/22/2011 THE DRIVER NOTICED SMOKE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN AREA OF THE DASH OF THE SCHOOL BUS WHICH RAPIDLY DEVELOPED AND ENGULFED THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. CAUSE OF FIRE WAS UNDETERMINED AFTER INSPECTION. ELECTIRCAL HEATING WAS NOTED AT THE SOLENOID BUT DID NOT APPEAR TO BE SUFFICIENT TO ACT AS AN IGNITION SOURCE AND LACK OF FUEL IN THE AREA DOES NOT DEMONSTRATE A MEANS FOR A FIRE TO DEVELOP.
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10450994 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10339346 · 2010-06-21 (June 21, 2010)
CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL BUS 29429 DEVELOPED A FUEL LEAK AT THE #6 INJECTOR WHILE IN OPERATION. THE FUEL LEAK WAS ATOMIZING FUEL IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT. THE BUS IS A 2009 BLUEBIRD VISION SCHOOL BUS EQUIPPED WITH A C7 CATERPILLAR ENGINE. THE CCSD HAS HAD SEVERAL OF THESE UNITS DEVELOP SIMILAR LEAKS. ONCE THE LEAK WAS FOUND ON THE OTHER BUSES THEY WERE SENT TO THE LOCAL CATERPILLAR DEALER. 29429 HAS NOT YET BEEN SENT. INJECTOR LINES, TUBES AND INJECTORS HAVE BEEN REPLACED IN THE PAST TO CORRECT THIS CONDITION. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 23,311 miles reported. Look up ODI 10339346 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 |
|---|---|
| 2004 | 17 |
| 2005 | 15 |
| 2006 | 17 |
| 2007 | 21 |
| 2008 | 30 |
| 2009 | 28 |
| 2010 | 25 |
| 2011 | 22 |
| 2012 | 19 |
| 2013 | 25 |
| 2014 | 22 |
| 2015 | 27 |
| 2016 | 27 |
| 2017 | 28 |
| 2018 | 35 |
| 2019 | 41 |
2004: 17; 2005: 15; 2006: 17; 2007: 21; 2008: 30; 2009: 28; 2010: 25; 2011: 22; 2012: 19; 2013: 25; 2014: 22; 2015: 27; 2016: 27; 2017: 28; 2018: 35; 2019: 41