2021 Blue Bird All American Transit Bus problems, complaints & recalls
Safety recalls (9)
Equipment:other:labels 2024-10-11 · campaign 24V759000 · 400 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: An emergency exit label that is difficult to read can prevent or delay the use of the emergency exit, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: 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).
Seats 2024-02-07 · campaign 24V079000 · 127 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: An unsecured seat may not adequately restrain an occupant, increasing the risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: 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.
Fuel System, Diesel:fuel Injection System:fuel Rail 2021-05-04 · campaign 21V313000 · 134 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Steering:column 2020-08-05 · campaign 20V455000 · 4 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: An improperly tightened steering wheel could detach, resulting in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Seat Belts:front:anchorage 2020-07-15 · campaign 20V407000 · 149 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: In the event of a crash, seat belt anchorages that do not remain secured increase the risk of injury to those seat occupants.
Fix: 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.
Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner 2020-05-12 · campaign 20V267000 · 46 vehicles
Defect: 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.
Risk: Incorrect installation of the air conditioning circuit breaker increases the risk of a fire.
Fix: 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.
Parking Brake 2020-05-08 · campaign 20V259000 · 24 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: Unintended vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Seats:barriers 2020-03-03 · campaign 20V125000 · 2,790 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: 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.
Fix: 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.
Structure:body:roof And Pillars 2019-10-04 · campaign 19V707000 · 302 vehicles
Defect: 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."
Risk: In the event of a crash, if the roof sheets separate, there is an increased risk of injury.
Fix: 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.
Service bulletins (6)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Power Train 2022-09-02 · SM2203 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
sm2203: ev recommended starting procedure this service memorandum is to announce the proper starting procedure to be followed for all cummins ev powered units. the sequence is required due to multiple electronic modules required to wake up and start communicating over the can (controller area netw
Power Train 2022-09-02 · SM2202 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
sm2022 ev maintenance and service documentation this service memorandum is to announce information on cummins power electric buses now available at quickserve online. dealer must have access to quickserve to obtain these service maintenance and repair procedures.
Engine And Engine Cooling 2022-08-18 · SU2201 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
cummins recently issued temporary repair practice (trp2484) for certain vehicles with def sensor failures in which def sensor replacement parts are not available. this provides a temporary ecm calibration that inhibits engine warning messages for communication errors with the def sensor allowing con
Electrical System 2021-03-15 · SU2103 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
the intent of service update su2103 is to announce a new shaw development technical bulletin. the technical bulletin is intended to guide shaw development customers in troubleshooting fault codes related to the def tank assembly on cummins engine equipment. this document is intended to be a âlivi
Engine And Engine Cooling 2019-12-11 · SU1901 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
models affected: 2010 thru 2021 all american subject: this update provides information on the new surge tank fill necks for all american instructions: there is a new kit available from part sales; 10066291 - kit, neck, surge tank. this kit is available for use with the all american & tx4 surge
Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner 2019-09-19 · S19AG · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
blue bird has determined that the cit brand air conditioning relays should be replaced with song chuan brand relays (pn 00079077). additionally, the wiring harness (pn 10023917) connected to the relay base should be inspected for any sign of damage and replaced, if necessary. blue bird will provide
What owners report
No detailed complaint narratives on file.
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.