1991 Blue Bird TC2000: complaints, problems and recalls

Reported: 2003-10-08 (October 8, 2003)

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.

Consequence: 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.

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.

Reported: 1991-12-16 (December 16, 1991)

THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE MOUNTED ON THE REAR AXLE MAY RUB AGAINST THE LEFT FRAME RAIL.

Consequence: THE HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE RUBBING AGAINST THE LEFT FRAMERAIL COULD CHAFE AND SPLIT, RESULTING IN LOSS OF HYDRAULIC FLUID AND INCREASEDSTOPPING DISTANCES.

Remedy: INSTALL A BRACKET AT REAR AXLE TO PROVIDE ADDITIONAL CLEARANCE BETWEEN THE BRAKE HOSE AND THE FRAME RAIL.

Reported: 1992-06-17 (June 17, 1992)

THE FRONT AIR BRAKE AUTOMATIC SLACK ADJUSTER CONTACTS THE STEERING ARM PREVENTING PROPER BRAKE ADJUSTMENT.

Consequence: IMPROPER AIR BRAKE SLACK ADJUSTMENT COULD CAUSEUNEXPECTED CHANGES IN BRAKE PERFORMANCE, WHICH COULD RESULT IN AN ACCIDENT INTHE EVENT OF A SUDDEN STOP.

Remedy: REPLACE THE FRONT AIR BRAKE CHAMBERS WITH CHAMBERS THAT HAVE LONGER PUSH RODS.

Reported: 1992-08-12 (August 12, 1992)

A 150 AMP CIRCUIT BREAKER, OPTION 4362, HAS BEEN WIRED IN PARALLEL WITH A STANDARD EQUIPMENT CIRCUIT, THEREBY NOT PROVIDING THE REQUIRED PROTECTION.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A MAJOR SHORT-CIRCUIT, INADEQUATE CIRCUITPROTECTION COULD RESULT IN A FIRE IN THE REAR ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Remedy: THE STANDARD EQUIPMENT CIRCUIT MUST BE REMOVED.

Reported: 1992-12-24 (December 24, 1992)

THE ELECTRIC VANDAL LOCK CENTER PLUNGER CAN TAP THE CONTROL LOCK PIN, OF THE OUTWARD OPENING DOOR, WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR LOCK TO BECOME DISENGAGED.

Consequence: THE DISENGAGED DOOR LOCK ALLOWS THE DOOR TO OPEN WITHOUTPRIOR WARNING AND ENDANGER OCCUPANTS NEAR THE DOOR IF THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.

Remedy: MODIFY THE VANDAL DOOR LOCKS WITH BLUE BIRD SUPPLIED KITS.

Reported: 1993-03-01 (March 1, 1993)

PASSENGERS CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

Consequence: WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THEHANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THEINDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUSINJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: REPLACE OR REPOSITION THE HANDRAILS TO STOP CLOTHING FROM BECOMING CAUGHT.

Reported: 1993-05-17 (May 17, 1993)

A WELD IN THE DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY USED ON REAR AND/OR SIDE EMERGENCY DOORS CAN BE OVERSTRESSED AND BREAK. WHEN THIS OCCURS, A CLOSED DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED, OR IF OPEN IT CANNOT BE LATCHED.

Consequence: AN EMERGENCY DOOR THAT WILL NOT OPEN PRESENTS ANINCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO PASSENGERS ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE A BUS IN ANEMERGENCY SITUATION. A DOOR LOCK WHICH WILL NOT CLOSE PRESENTS A RISK OF APASSENGER ACCIDENTALLY FALLING OUT OF THE BUS.

Remedy: REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCKS.

Reported: 1995-05-09 (May 9, 1995)

PASSENGERS CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

Consequence: WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION,THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT INSERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SET SCREW TO THE METAL CLAMP WHICH RETAINS THE INTERMEDIATE HANDRAIL. A HIGH IMPACT MOLDED PLASTIC "CLAM SHELL" WILL BE PLACED OVER EACH END OF THE INTERMEDIATE HANDRAIL COMPLETELY COVERING THE CLAMP AND ELIMINATING ALL CATCH-POINTS. THE FLANGE OF THE EXISTING FLOOR LINE BRACKET WILL BE CRIMPED SECURING THE VERTICAL SECTION OF THE PRIMARY TUBLAR HANDRAIL AT THE FLOOR LINE.

Reported: 1995-07-26 (July 26, 1995)

THESE UNITS ARE EQUIPPED WITH A COUNTER WEIGHT ASSEMBLY MADE UP OF 300 POUNDS OF 1/4" PLATE STEEL WELDED TOGETHER AND BOLTED BETWEEN THE FRAME RAILS IN THE REAR OVERHANG JUST FORWARD OF THE REAR BUMPER. SOME OF THE WELDS HAVE BROKEN DUE TO INSUFFICIENT WELDS, CORROSION, OR ICE EXPANSION.

Consequence: THESE PLATES CAN DROP TO THE ROADWAY BECOMING A HAZARD TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.

Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MECHANICAL RETAINING DEVICE WHICH CLAMPS THE PLATES TOGETHER AND FASTENED WITH THREADED FASTENERS. BUS OWNERS WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF REPAIRING THEIR OWN VEHICLES.

Reported: 1996-05-03 (May 3, 1996)

PASSENGER'S CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE FORWARD HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

Consequence: WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE DIRECTED TO REMOVE ALL FORWARD HANDRAILS. PROVISIONS WILL BE MADE FOR THOSE OWNERS OPERATING IN STATES WHICH MANDATE A FORWARD HANDRAIL THAT A REPLACEMENT HANDRAIL WILL BE PROVIDED.

Reported: 1997-11-07 (November 7, 1997)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FRONT AND REAR ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH 60 GALLON SIDE MOUNTED FUEL TANK BARRIERS. THESE BUSES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE FUEL TANK COULD BE DAMAGED, LEAKING FUEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL SHIP INSTRUCTIONS AND MODIFICATION KITS TO THE OWNERS OF THESE BUSES.

Reported: 1999-06-15 (June 15, 1999)

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THE WALL SIDE ATTACHING BOLTS FOR SOME OF THE PASSENGER SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE SEAT LEDGE AND IN THE WRONG ATTACHING HOLE RESULTING IN WEAKENING OF THE SEAT LEDGE AT THE ATTACHMENT POINTS.

Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL CRASH, THE REAR ATTACHING BOLT OF THESE SEATS COULD PULL OUT OF THE SEAT LEDGE INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL FURNISH TO DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS, PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT ATTACHMENT AT THE WALL SIDE.