BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 126 MY 2001 AND 2002 CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN APRIL 19 AND OCTOBER 21, 2001, EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL FLIP-UP SEAT BOTTOM CUSHIONS. THE SEAT BOTTOM CUSHION REAR RETAINING CLIPS MAY HAVE BEEN OMITTED WHICH FAILS TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 222, "SEAT CUSHION RETENTION."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT CUSHION MAY FLIP UP EXPOSING THE OCCUPANTS TO INCREASED RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND PROVIDE A REMEDY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 10, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-422-2242.
CERTAIN BLUE BIRD 1999-2005 ALL AMERICAN, TC/2000, MICRO BIRD, VISION, CONVENTIONAL, AND COMMERCIAL SERIES SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOC WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS AND MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 17, 1999, AND AUGUST 13, 2004. CERTAIN SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR TIE-DOWN SECUREMENT ASSEMBLIES P/N 8625-13. THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE LOAD PAWL NOT TO FULLY SEAT IN THE SPROCKET TEETH.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.
Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 21, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR BUSES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL SEAT BELTS OR SEAT BELT "READY" SEATS, SOME BELTS WERE INSTALLED WITH ONLY TWO BOLTS RATHER THAN THE REQUIRED THREE (3) BOLTS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THESE SEATS COULD DETACH FROM THE WALL SIDE ATTACHMENT POINTS IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL FURNISH TO DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS, PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY TO INSTALL THE MISSING BOLT FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO ON NOVEMBER 3, 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 1-478-822-2242.
ON CERTAIN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH PASSENGER SEAT BELTS WITH RETRACTORS, THE COVER HALVES FOR THE RETRACTABLE PORTION OF THE BELT CAN SEPARATE COMPLETELY AND RELEASE THE SEAT BELT CONNECTOR. IF THIS OCCURS, ONE OF THE LOAD BEARING PINS IN THE CONNECTOR COULD SEPARATE FROM THE CONNECTOR AND RENDER THE SEAT BELT UNUSABLE. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED RESULTING IN AN INJURY. THE SEAT BELT SUPPLIER, AM-SAFE, WILL PROVIDE A SNAP ON "OVER-COVER" TO OWNERS TO PREVENT THE SEAT BELT COVER FROM SEPARATING.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, ONE OF THE LOAD BEARING PINS IN THE CONNECTOR COULD SEPARATE FROM THE CONNECTOR AND RENDER THE SEAT BELT UNUSABLE. IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE SEAT OCCUPANT WOULD NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED RESULTING IN AN INJURY.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED A SNAP-ON "OVER-COVER" TO PREVENT THE SEAT BELT COVER FROM SEPARATING. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 27, 2002. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.
CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL HIGH BACK SEATS WITH 9" SPLIT SASH, PUSHOUT WINDOWS FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." THE AFFECTED UNITS HAVE SEATS LOCATED INCORRECTLY WITH RESPECT TO THE PUSHOUT WINDOW OPENINGS.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, AN OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY EXIT THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL RELOCATE THE SEATS AND PUSHOUT WINDOWS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 24, 2002. 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 1-478-825-2021.
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH OPTION 2836-02 DRIVER'S SEAT BELTS. THE SEAT BELTS ARE TOO LONG PREVENTING THE BELT FROM RETRACTING PROPERLY AND FITTING THE OCCUPANT AS DESIGNED.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH, THE DRIVER MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RESTRAINED INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.
Remedy: THE BELTS WILL BE REPLACED WITH BELTS OF PROPER SHOULDER HARNESS LENGTH. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 15, 2001. 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 1-478-822-2242.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
PE07020 · Seat Track Corrosion
Opened Apr 19, 2007 · Closed Aug 6, 2007
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Seats
ODI OPENED THIS PE AFTER RECEIVING THREE ALLEGATIONS OF SEAT TRACK CORROSION DISCOVERED BY FLEETS WHILE PERFORMING PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.SINCE OPENING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI HAS VISITED THE FLEETS, INSPECTED SUBJECT BUSES, INTERVIEWED SHOP PERSONNEL, REVIEWED BLUE BIRD'S RESPONSE TO OUR INFORMATION REQUEST. AND CONDUCTED A JOINT EVALUATION OF A COMPLAINT VEHICLE'S CONFORMANCE TO FMVSS 571.222, SCHOOL BUS SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION.THE TESTING WAS CONDUCTED AT THE VEHICLE RESEARCH & TEST CENTER, ANDA BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY TEST ENGINEER WAS IN ATTENDANCE. BASED ON THESE ACTIONS,NO SAFETY RELATED DEFECT HAS BEEN IDENTIFIED AT THIS TIME AND THIS PE IS CLOSED.THE CLOSING OF THIS INVESTIGATION DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A FINDING BY NHTSA THAT NO SAFETY-RELATED DEFECT EXISTS AND WE RESERVE THE RIGHT TO TAKE FURTHER ACTION IF WARRANTED.NEVERTHELESS, BLUE BIRD HAS DECIDED TO MAIL NON-SAFETY OWNER LETTERS TO THESUBJECT BUS OWNERS ADVISING THEM TO INSPECT THE ALUMINUM SEAT TRACKS ON A REGULAR BASIS AND TO MAKE ANY NECESSARY REPAIR/REPLACEMENT.
2001 Blue Bird Conventional Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year
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