2007 Blue Bird All American problems, complaints & recalls

Defect: 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."

Risk: 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.

Fix: 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.

Defect: Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2007-2019 Blue Bird All American ambulance buses. The clamps that secure the stacked stretchers may fail from repeated use or from high loads.

Risk: If the clamps fail with patients in the stretchers, it can increase the risk of injury.

Fix: Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will install redesigned clamps, free of charge. The recall began December 12, 2018. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R18ZQ-NSB.

Defect: Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 All American, Vision, 2007-2011 Micro Bird, and 2007-2008 Conventional school buses, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured January 1, 2006, to August 25, 2014 by the Ricon Corporation. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Risk: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

Fix: Blue Bird will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884.

Defect: Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 All American and Vision and 2007-2011 Micro Bird transit buses equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured January 1, 2006, to August 25, 2014 by the Ricon Corporation. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Risk: If the bearings move out of position, the stowed platform may have excessive movement resulting in failure of the platform mounting. This failure could cause the wheel chair lift platform to fall out of the vehicle when the doors are opened, increasing the risk of injury for the lift operator.

Fix: Blue Bird will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on December 1, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242, or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884.

Defect: Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 All American and Vision, 2007-2011 Micro Bird, and 2007-2008 Conventional school buses equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

Fix: Blue Bird will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on October 1, 2014. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R14XN.

Defect: Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 All American, 2007-2010 Micro Bird, and 2007-2014 Vision non-school buses equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

Risk: If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

Fix: Blue Bird will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on October 1, 2014. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R14XN.

Defect: Blue Bird Body Company is recalling certain model year 2007-2014 All American and Vision school buses manufactured March 10, 2006, through June 18, 2013; and equipped with optional transit sliding windows. Joint adhesive may not have been applied at the interior and exterior body window panel joints. Without the adhesive, these vehicles fail to conform to the standards of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 221, "School Bus Body Joint Strength."

Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, there is an increased risk that the window panels may separate and fall onto occupants causing injury.

Fix: Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will install additional rivets at the window panel joints, free of charge. The recall began on August 28, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-825-2021. Blue Bird's recall number is R13WM.

Defect: BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2012 ALL AMERICAN REAR ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 12, 2006, THROUGH JUNE 27, 2011, AND EQUIPPED WITH A 60 GALLON FUEL TANK. THE TANK RETURN LINE CAN DEVELOP A LEAK THAT EXCEEDS THE AMOUNT OF FUEL SPILLAGE ALLOWED. ACCORDINGLY, THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."

Risk: A FUEL LEAK IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE CAN RESULT IN A FIRE.

Fix: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 9, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.

Defect: BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2006 THROUGH 2012 ALL AMERICAN, 2006 THROUGH 2011 VISION, AND 2006 CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN SEPTEMBER 19, 2005, AND MAY 3, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH 2-PASSENGER SEATS INSTALLED FORWARD OF THE 39" BARRIER. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE BARRIER MAY MAKE CONTACT WITH THE 2-PASSENGER SEAT INSTALLED FORWARD OF THE BARRIER. ACCORDINGLY, THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 222, "SCHOOL

Risk: THE SEAT OCCUPANTS MAY BE SERIOUSLY INJURED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Fix: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 18, 2012. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.

Defect: BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2011 ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM SEPTEMBER 22, 2006, THROUGH AUGUST 7, 2010, AND EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL PARK BRAKE VALVE INTERLOCK FEATURE. THE OPTIONAL PARK BRAKE INTERLOCK VALVE MAY HAVE BEEN PLUMBED INCORRECTLY WHICH COULD RESULT IN INADVERTENT PARK BRAKE APPLICATION WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING.

Risk: INADVERTENT APPLICATION OF THE PARK BRAKE VALVE COULD CAUSE A VEHICLE CRASH WHICH COULD RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE, PERSONAL INJURY, OR DEATH.

Fix: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. ALL OF THE BUSES HAVE BEEN INSPECTED AND, IF NEEDED, REPAIRED. THEREFORE, AN OWNER NOTIFICATION LETTER WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.

Defect: BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2010 ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 29, 2006 THROUGH AUGUST 7, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB-02, ISB-07, AND ISB-10 ENGINES. AN INCORRECT COMBINATION OF FLAT WASHER AND SERRATED NUT WAS INSTALLED ON THE BOLT THAT SECURES THE STARTER CABLE RETAINING CLAMP TO ITS ATTACHING BRACKET AT THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE ABOVE THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. THE FLAT WASHER PREVENTS THE SERRATED NUT FROM LOCKING AGAINST THE ATTACHING BRACKET. O

Risk: IF THE STARTER CABLE CONTACTS THE FAN HUB WHILE THE FAN HUB IS IN OPERATION, THE CABLE COVERING MAY ABRADE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A DIRECT SHORT. A SHORT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Fix: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.

Defect: BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2007 THROUGH 2010 ALL AMERICAN NON SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 16, 2006 THROUGH AUGUST 3, 2010 EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB-02, ISB-07, AND ISB-10 ENGINES. AN INCORRECT COMBINATION OF FLAT WASHER AND SERRATED NUT WAS INSTALLED ON THE BOLT THAT SECURES THE STARTER CABLE RETAINING CLAMP TO ITS ATTACHING BRACKET AT THE FRONT OF THE ENGINE ABOVE THE ENGINE COOLING FAN. THE FLAT WASHER PREVENTS THE SERRATED NUT FROM LOCKING AGAINST THE ATTACHING B

Risk: IF THE STARTER CABLE CONTACTS THE FAN HUB WHILE THE FAN HUB IS IN OPERATION, THE CABLE COVERING MAY ABRADE WHICH COULD RESULT IN A DIRECT SHORT. A SHORT COULD POTENTIALLY RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.

Fix: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON SEPTEMBER 24, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.