2021 Blue Bird VISION SCHOOL BUS: complaints, problems and recalls

There is an issue with the braking systems on the Bluebird buses which cause the brake lights to illuminate constantly, fail to illuminate, limit acceleration, and/or receive a "loss of brake input" warning message on the dash cluster. We have 43 Buses of like Year Models ranging from 2021 - 2022 Bluebird, Vision, that we have documented 38 separate repairs for 28 buses in our fleet related to the braking system. The brake pedal experiences excessive back travel that causes damage to the brake switch (part number 10026469). The cause of the…

Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 11504844 at NHTSA ↗

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: 2020-04-27 (April 27, 2020)

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."

Consequence: 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.

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.

Reported: 2020-05-05 (May 5, 2020)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Vision school buses equipped with Ford 6.8L gasoline engines with an optional right-hand mounted parking brake lever. Due to improper routing of the parking brake cables, the parking brake cable may contact and chafe the gasoline fuel line, potentially causing a fuel leak.

Consequence: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and secure the parking brake cable, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began May 28, 2020. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R20AQ-SB.

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

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Vision and All American school 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-SB.

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

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Vision and All American school 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 may increase 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-SB.

Reported: 2020-06-15 (June 15, 2020)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2019-2021 Blue Bird Vision school buses powered by Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) or Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG). The castle nuts used to connect the steering drag link to the steering arm may have not been correctly tightened, potentially causing separation of the drag link.

Consequence: If the drag link separates, loss of steering control my occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and will inspect the drag link assembly connection points, tightening them as necessary, free of charge. This recall began July 27, 2020. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R20AW-SB.

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

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2021 All-American and 2019-2021 Vision school 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. This 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.

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

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2021 Vision and All American school 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. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R20AY-SB.

Reported: 2021-02-12 (February 12, 2021)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Vision and All American buses. The seats with integrated 3-point seat belts may have been installed incorrectly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Consequence: An incorrectly installed seat can increase the risk of injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seats and install any missing hardware, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 9, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed February 03, 2022. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R21BB-SB.

Reported: 2021-02-17 (February 17, 2021)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2021-2022 Vision and 2022 All American school buses equipped with hydraulic brakes and electronic stability control (ESC). The Hydraulic Brake control unit (ECU) may not have been programmed correctly, possibly causing the ESC to malfunction.

Consequence: If the electronic stability control does not function properly, it can increase the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the hydraulic brake ECU and repair it as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 9, 2021. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R21BC-SB.

Reported: 2021-04-12 (April 12, 2021)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Vision and All American school buses. The electric drive train cannot detect isolation faults when the high voltage contactors are closed.

Consequence: An undetected high voltage isolation can expose service personnel to high voltage, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will update the Vehicle Control Unit software or install a different combination of High Voltage Power Distribution Unit hardware, free of charge. The recall began on May 22, 2021. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R21BD-SB.

Reported: 2021-04-22 (April 22, 2021)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Vision and All American school buses. A retainer was not properly seated in the SC-3 single check valve and may not provide source air isolation when pressure is applied. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake System."

Consequence: Unintended spring brake application may occur, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the SC-3 check valves, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 18, 2021. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R21BE-SB.

Reported: 2021-04-28 (April 28, 2021)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Vision and All American school buses. The drivetrain may experience an electromagnetic noise on the Control Area Network (CAN) bus, which may cause a loss of electrical power to the power steering pump.

Consequence: A loss of assisted power steering increases the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Cummins will replace the High Voltage Low Power Inverter Harness, and install an overlay harness, free of charge. Interim owner notification letters were mailed on May 22, 2021. Owner notification letters were mailed on October 25, 2021. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242.

Reported: 2022-07-14 (July 14, 2022)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2022 All American and Vision school buses equipped with Cummins PD7000 Electric Drivetrains containing an electric air compressor. The air compressor housing is improperly grounded, causing electrical voltage greater than 50V AC during operation.

Consequence: An improperly grounded air compressor can cause electric shock, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will install an electrical ground strap between the compressor motor housing and vehicle chassis, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed February 6, 2023. Owners may contact Blue Bird's customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R22BY-SB.

Reported: 2022-08-04 (August 4, 2022)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Blue Bird Vision transit buses equipped with Roush fuel return lines included in GEN 4 and GEN 5 LPG Conversion Systems that were installed on vehicles sold or registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The zinc-plating on the fuel return line may break away when contacted by road debris, causing two dissimilar metals on the fuel line to contact each other and corrode.

Consequence: A corroded fuel line can leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel return lines, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 24, 2023. Owners may contact Blue Bird's customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R22BX-NSB.

Reported: 2022-08-04 (August 4, 2022)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2017-2023 Blue Bird Vision school buses equipped with Roush fuel return lines included in GEN 4 and GEN 5 LPG Conversion Systems that were installed on vehicles sold or registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The zinc-plating on the fuel return line may break away when contacted by road debris, causing two dissimilar metals on the fuel line to contact each other and corrode.

Consequence: A corroded fuel line can leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel return lines, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 24, 2023. Owners may contact Blue Bird's customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R22BX-SB.

Reported: 2022-10-04 (October 4, 2022)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2013-2021 Vision school buses equipped with Ford 6.8L LPG engines. The LPG supply line may be damaged from contact with the RH park brake cable, which can result in a fuel leak.

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

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and repair the fuel lines and the park brake cable, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed on November 18, 2022. Owners may contact Blue Bird's customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R22CA-SB.

Reported: 2023-04-18 (April 18, 2023)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2021 All American and Vision School Buses, equipped with PowerDrive 7000 electric drive systems. The System Control Module (SCM) may activate the anti-rollback feature, causing the vehicle to reverse faster than expected when the vehicle is in reverse and pointing downhill with the brake pedal not applied.

Consequence: A vehicle reversing faster than expected can increase the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the SCM software calibration, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed May 10, 2023. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R23CG (SB)

Reported: 2023-06-13 (June 13, 2023)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2021-2024 All American and 2021-2022 Vision school buses. A software error in the instrument cluster may cause the air pressure gauges and the visual and audio low air warnings to not function. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Consequence: Air gauges and warnings that do not alert the driver to air pressure loss can result in driving without functioning brakes, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will update the instrument cluster software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 27, 2023, 2023. Owners may contact Blue Bird's customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R23CH (School Bus).

Reported: 2024-02-02 (February 2, 2024)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Vision school buses. Firmware in the multiplex module may cause the warning lights to deactivate and the stop arm to retract without warning.

Consequence: An unintended deactivation of the warning lights and retraction of the stop arm during use increases the risk of a crash or injury.

Remedy: Dealers will update the multiplex firmware, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 25, 2024. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R24CX (SB).

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

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Vision 2020-2023 All American school 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-SB.

Reported: 2024-05-23 (May 23, 2024)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2021-2023 Vision school buses. The diesel tank that supplies the fuel fired heater was improperly designed and may leak fuel. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 301, "Fuel System Integrity."

Consequence: A fuel leak onto the road creates a hazard for other road users, increasing the risk of a crash. Additionally, a fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

Remedy: Dealers will repair the tank, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 08, 2024. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R24DA.

Reported: 2024-07-19 (July 19, 2024)

Blue Bird Bus Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2019-2023 Vision, All American Front Engine, and All American Rear Engine school buses. An exterior roof joint may have been manufactured with insufficient strength that can allow the roof panels to separate in a crash. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 221, "School Bus Body Joint Strength."

Consequence: Roof panels that separate during a crash can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy: Dealers will inspect the roof panel joints and install additional rivets as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 17, 2024. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242.

Reported: 2024-08-12 (August 12, 2024)

Blue Bird Bus Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Vision school buses equipped with 6.8L gasoline engines. The coating on the fuel lines may have been improperly applied, which can result in a fuel leak.

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

Remedy: Dealers will inspect and replace the fuel lines as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed October 10, 2024. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242.

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

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2019-2024 Vision and All American school 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 emergency exit 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 (SB).