2021 Blue Bird ALL AMERICAN TRANSIT BUS: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2019-10-04 (October 4, 2019)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2019-2021 All American and Vision school buses. An insufficient number of rivets were installed in the roof sheets, allowing the roof sheets to separate in the event of a severe impact. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 221, "School Bus Body Joint Strength."

Consequence: In the event of a crash, if the roof sheets separate, there is an increased risk of injury.

Remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the roof joints and add the sufficient number of rivets, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began October 22, 2019. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R19AH.

Reported: 2020-03-03 (March 3, 2020)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2008-2021 Vision and All American school buses. The seat barrier behind the driver seat with an integrated 3-point seat belt may have been installed incorrectly and may be missing the reinforcing bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."

Consequence: In the event of a crash, the seat barrier may not adequately protect the occupant seated behind the seat barrier separating them from the driver seat with integrated 3-point seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and properly install the seat barrier including adding reinforcing bracket, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 23, 2020. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R20AM-SB.

Reported: 2020-05-08 (May 8, 2020)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Vision and 2021 All American buses. The foot pedal parking brake assembly may have been improperly assembled possibly resulting in a failure to hold the vehicle stationary on an incline when the vehicle is loaded to its maximum weight. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems."

Consequence: Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the foot pedal parking brake assembly application force and adjust it as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin July 3, 2020. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R20AP-NSB.

Reported: 2020-05-12 (May 12, 2020)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Vision and All American buses equipped with factory-installed air conditioning (A/C) systems. The A/C circuit breaker may have been installed incorrectly.

Consequence: Incorrect installation of the air conditioning circuit breaker increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the installation of the A/C circuit breaker, correcting it as necessary. Any damaged circuit breakers will be replaced. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began July 6, 2020. Owner letters were mailed on November 30, 2021. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R20AR-NSB.

Reported: 2020-07-15 (July 15, 2020)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Vision and All-American transit buses. The three-point seatbelt assembly may have been installed without reinforcing washers under the floor at the anchorage point, possibly preventing the assembly from remaining anchored in the event of a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Consequence: In the event of a crash, seat belt anchorages that do not remain secured increase the risk of injury to those seat occupants.

Remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt anchorage point hardware and install any missing hardware as needed, free of charge. The recall began August 11, 2020. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R20AX-NSB.

Reported: 2020-08-05 (August 5, 2020)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2021 Vision and All American buses. The nut that secures the steering wheel to the steering shaft may not have been properly tightened.

Consequence: An improperly tightened steering wheel could detach, resulting in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and tighten the steering wheel nut, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began August 26, 2020. Owner letters were mailed January 19, 2022. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R20AY-NSB.

Reported: 2021-05-04 (May 4, 2021)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2022 All American vehicles. The sealing washer may not seat correctly in the pilot bore holes, allowing the high pressure fuel rail assembly to leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the rail threads and fuel lines, and replace the rail as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on July 30, 2021. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R21BH-NSB.

Reported: 2024-02-07 (February 7, 2024)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Vision and 2021-2023 All American transit buses. The convertible seats may have been incorrectly installed, which can result in an unsecured seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Consequence: An unsecured seat may not adequately restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the seat, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 04, 2024. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R24CM-NSB.

Reported: 2024-10-11 (October 11, 2024)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2020-2024 All American and 2021-2024 Vision transit buses. The emergency exit label operating instructions lettering is too small and may be difficult to read. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."

Consequence: An emergency exit label that is difficult to read can prevent or delay the use of the emergency exit, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed December 9, 2024. Owners may contact Blue Bird Customer Service at 478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R23CK (NSB).