Blue Bird Commercial Series Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 16 safety recalls and 0 owner complaints across 10 model years of the Blue Bird Commercial Series (1995–2004).

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All Blue Bird Commercial Series recalls (16)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Blue Bird Commercial Series, most recent first, with the model years each one covers.

1. Vehicle speed control

   NHTSA 05V152000 Reported April 7, 2005 486 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Certain 2001 through 2005 all american, commercial series, and q-bus school and transit buses equipped with john deere 8.1 cng engines. The subject buses equipped with the john deere engines may surge inappropriately due to erractic operation of the air throttle if the engine is taken from full to zero load.

   Remedy: John deere will notify blue bird's customers and repair the engines free of charge. Customers are being instructed to contact john deere at 1-800-jd-engine.

   Model years: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

2. Engine and engine cooling

   NHTSA 05V074000 Reported March 1, 2005 416 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Certain 2002-2006 my blue bird all american school and transit buses, conventional school buses, and commercial series transit buses manufactured between december 21, 2002, and february 24, 2005. These buses are equipped with webasto coolant heaters, model dbw 2010, assembled with webasto burner tubes, p/n 303046/26533a manufactured…

   Remedy: Blue bird will notify its customers and replace the burner tubes free of charge. The recall began on march 31, 2005. Owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

   Model years: 2004

3. Fuel system, diesel

   NHTSA 05V062000 Reported February 22, 2005 18,891 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Certain 1998 through 2002 blue bird all american, tc2000 school and transit buses, and commercial series buses equipped with cummins isb diesel engines. The fuel pump could fail to transfer fuel appropriately creating an engine stall condition.

   Remedy: Customers will be notified by cummins to bring their vehicles to an authorized dealer to have the fuel lift pump replaced free of charge. For more information, customers may contact cummins at 1-800-diesels.

   Model years: 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

4. Equipment adaptive/mobility

   NHTSA 04V426000 Reported August 30, 2004 372 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   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…

   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…

   Model years: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004

5. Alternator/generator/regulator (electrical system)

   NHTSA 03V085000 Reported March 28, 2003 4,302 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   On certain school and transit buses equipped with cummins isb 6 cylinder engines, the lower alternator support brace or mounting hardware can loosen or break which will allow the alternator to drop onto the engine.

   Remedy: Cummins will notify customers and replace the upper and lower alternator support brackets free of charge. Owners who take their vehicle to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free…

   Model years: 1998, 1999

6. Alternator/generator/regulator (electrical system)

   NHTSA 02V233000 Reported September 5, 2002 318 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   On certain front engine school and transit buses equipped with blue bird option 40177 cummins isb engine, the alternator power cables may not be routed properly from the alternator output to the starter motor.

   Remedy: Dealers will add a loom and reroute the electrical power cable from alternator output to starting motor. The alternator power cable will be replaced if abrasions are found. Owner notification is expected to begin on or…

   Model years: 1998

7. Electrical system: wiring

   NHTSA 02V217000 Reported August 12, 2002 255 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   On certain rear engine school and transit buses equipped with cummins isb engines, the wiring harness to the combustion air intake grid heater could chafe against engine components.

   Remedy: Owners will be contacted and advised to add a bracket to support the harness away from the engine components. Blue bird will provide a replacement harness for any harnesses found abraded and will reimburse the customer…

   Model years: 2002, 2003

8. Manual transmission (power train)

   NHTSA 02V177000 Reported July 9, 2002 3,439 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   On certain school and transit buses equipped with allison 2000 series transmissions, the "range inhibited" indicator light on the dash was improperly installed and does not function.

   Remedy: Distributors and owners will be instructed to remove the dash and activate the indicator "range inhibited" light according to instructions provided. Owner notification began august 16, 2002. Owners who take their…

   Model years: 2002

9. Suspension

   NHTSA 01V338000 Reported November 2, 2001 2,692 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Vehicle description: school buses equipped with hendrickson rear air suspension. Inadequate tightening of the 5/8" bolts on the rear air suspension hanger bolts and on rear axle torque arm axle seat studs.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the 5/8" grade 8-hanger bolts. In addition, axle spring seat fasteners will be checked for proper tightness and, if needed, tightened to specifications. Owner notification began january 18, 2002.…

   Model years: 1999, 2000, 2001

10. Electrical system: wiring

    NHTSA 01V191000 Reported June 11, 2001 5,631 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with rear mounted engines. The 12-volt power supply cable(s) may be chaffed by hoses, harnesses, frame components, or clamps.

    Remedy: Dealers will remove and inspect the 12-volt power cable(s) from the battery to the starter and, if necessary, will replace the cables. Owner notification began july 30, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an…

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001

11. Tie rod assembly (steering)

    NHTSA 01V044003 Reported February 23, 2001 842 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Vehicle description: school and transit buses and motor home chassis equipped with tie rod assemblies manufactured by trw. The suspect tie rods contain 24-dl model ball sockets. Certain of the tie rod ball-socket bearings have a below-specification case depth and/or hardness, which can lead to premature wear of the socket.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the defective ball sockets and/or drag links. Owner notification began march 30, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…

    Model years: 1999

12. Antilock (service brakes)

    NHTSA 00V279004 Reported December 18, 2000 1,269 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Vehicle description: transit and school buses equipped with meritor wabco phase 1, d-version antilock brake system (ABS), fail to comply to the requirements of FMVSS no. 105, "hydraulic and electric brake systems." an internal diagnostic system in the ABS may not detect an extreme wheel speed sensor air gap. Such a condition could…

    Remedy: The ABS ECU will be removed and replaced or the ECU will be reprogrammed.

    Model years: 1999, 2000, 2001

13. Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)

    NHTSA 00V230001 Reported August 17, 2000 6,914 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with electronic engines and felsted electronic accelerator pedals. The return springs can break on the accelerator pedals that are equipped with stainless steel or electroplated music wire return springs.

    Remedy: Replacement accelerator pedals equipped with return springs manufactured of music wire with one additional coil on each spring and with an organic coating, eliminating electroplating will be installed.

    Model years: 1999, 2000

14. Foot control/valve (service brakes)

    NHTSA 00V162000 Reported June 12, 2000 9,687 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with bendix air brakes. Bendix changed the internal design of the qr1c relay valve by adding a hole in the internal diaphragm. When the hole in the diaphragm aligns with the hole in the valve body, the brake application time increases.

    Remedy: Dealers will replace the diaphragms with holes with solid diaphragms for the qr1c valves.

    Model years: 1997, 1998, 1999

15. Windshield (visibility)

    NHTSA 00V130000 Reported May 5, 2000 2,088 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Vehicle description: school buses equipped with transit sliding pushout windows. Potential sticking and/or binding of the pushout window inner frame within the outer frame results in opening forces exceeding the requirements of FMVSS no. 217, "bus window retention and release."

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with step-by-step procedures for modifying the transit sliding pushout windows to conform the FMVSS 217 requirements.

    Model years: 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

16. Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)

    NHTSA 00V051000 Reported February 22, 2000 3,113 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with bendix ABS anti-lock braking system. The primary and secondary brake treadle valve air lines were installed incorrectly at the bendix r12dc relay valve.

    Remedy: Dealers will correct the air line plumbing at the bendix r12dc relay valve.

    Model years: 1998, 1999

Other Blue Bird models

• All American52 complaints
• TC200038 complaints
• School Bus33 complaints
• Vision23 complaints
• Conventional14 complaints
• Blue Bird13 complaints
• Wanderlodge M450 Lxi9 complaints
• All American School Bus8 complaints

Source: NHTSA recall and complaint databases and EPA fuel economy data, October 2026. Complaint counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. Recall counts are safety campaigns that list this model year; whether a particular car was already repaired depends on its VIN. How this data is compiled.