1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series Recalls, Complaints & Specs
7 safety recalls list the 1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series. Check your own VIN below.
7 safety recalls for the 1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series
Most recent first. Recall repairs are free at any authorised dealer. Click a recall for the full defect, consequence and remedy text.
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Fuel system, diesel
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.
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Alternator/generator/regulator (electrical system)
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…
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Alternator/generator/regulator (electrical system)
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…
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Electrical system: wiring
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…
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Foot control/valve (service brakes)
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.
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Windshield (visibility)
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.
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Hoses, lines/piping, and fittings (service brakes)
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.
No owner complaints on file
NHTSA has no owner complaints on file for the 1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series. For context, the average model year in NHTSA's database has dozens; a zero can mean a reliable vehicle, a rare one, or both.
Compare Blue Bird Commercial Series model years
Recall and complaint counts for every Blue Bird Commercial Series model year in NHTSA's database.
| Model year | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 Blue Bird Commercial Series | 1 | 0 |
| 1996 Blue Bird Commercial Series | 2 | 0 |
| 1997 Blue Bird Commercial Series | 3 | 0 |
| 1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series | 7 | 0 |
| 1999 Blue Bird Commercial Series | 11 | 0 |
| 2000 Blue Bird Commercial Series | 7 | 0 |
| 2001 Blue Bird Commercial Series | 6 | 0 |
| 2002 Blue Bird Commercial Series | 5 | 0 |
| 2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series | 3 | 0 |
| 2004 Blue Bird Commercial Series | 3 | 0 |
Checking a specific 1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series
How do I know if my 1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series has an open recall?
Enter your 17-character VIN above. The VIN is on the driver's side dashboard (visible through the windshield), the driver's door jamb sticker, and your registration or insurance card. The check runs against NHTSA's live database and tells you which campaigns list your vehicle. 7 campaigns currently list the 1998 Blue Bird Commercial Series; your car may already have been repaired under some of them.
Is the recall repair free?
Yes. Under federal law, manufacturers must fix safety recalls at no charge for vehicles up to 15 years old from the date of sale to the first owner. Contact any authorised Blue Bird dealer with your VIN and the NHTSA campaign number (for example 00V051000).
What is the difference between a recall and a complaint?
A recall is a safety campaign filed by the manufacturer or ordered by NHTSA, with a defined defect and remedy. A complaint is a report an owner sent to NHTSA; it is not verified, but patterns of complaints are what trigger NHTSA investigations and, eventually, recalls.
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.