Blue Bird Q-Bus Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 14 safety recalls and 0 owner complaints across 12 model years of the Blue Bird Q-Bus (1992–2003).

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All Blue Bird Q-Bus recalls (14)

Every NHTSA safety campaign that lists a Blue Bird Q-Bus, 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

2. 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

3. Chamber (service brakes)

   NHTSA 01V320000 Reported October 5, 2001 1,500 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Vehicle description: school and transit buses. Insufficient torque on the arvin-meritor air brake chamber mounting nuts can allow the nuts to loosen over time.

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect the torque values on each brake chamber nut and tighten to specifications. Owner notification began november 16, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon…

   Model years: 2001, 2002

4. 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

5. Slack adjusters (service brakes)

   NHTSA 01V060000 Reported February 23, 2001 460 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Vehicle description: school and transit buses equipped with a combination spicer j230 rear axle, spring suspension, and crewson brunner automatic slack adjusters. The crewson brunner slack adjuster contacts a u-bolt mounting bracket when a combination of the listed components are installed. The combination does not allow for full…

   Remedy: Dealers will install modified u-bolt brackets that will provide the needed clearance. Owner notification began march 15, 2001. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and…

   Model years: 2000, 2001

6. 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

7. 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, 2000

8. 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, 2000

9. Electrical system: front underhood

   NHTSA 98V313000 Reported December 14, 1998 2,740 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Vehicle description: school and transit forward and rear engine buses equipped with cummins isb and isc engines. The wiring harness to the combustion air intake grid heater can chafe against the engine and wear through causing an electrical short in the grid heater power supply. The short causes the fusible link to fail.

   Remedy: Owners will be advised to replace the original grid heater power supply harness with fusible links with a new grid heater power supply harness equipped with fuses. In addition, a clamp will be added to support the…

   Model years: 1998

10. Power train

    NHTSA 96V198000 Reported October 9, 1996 5 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Oversized rotors were installed in the powertrain drive motors in these buses.

    Remedy: Northrup-grumman will perform the modification to these powertrain drive motors.

    Model years: 1996

11. Linkages (steering)

    NHTSA 95V036000 Reported February 23, 1995 2,714 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Quench cracks occurred in the pitman arm pinch bolt during the bolt manufacturing process, causing a weakness in these bolts.

    Remedy: Blue bird will provide replacement bolts for all affected units.

    Model years: 1994, 1995

12. Chamber (service brakes)

    NHTSA 94V011000 Reported January 21, 1994 122 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    An incorrect size brake chamber may have been installed on the front and/or rear brake assemblies which could affect the brake balance and stopping distance.

    Remedy: Bus owners will be provided with instructions to inspect their vehicles and provide blue bird with certain information. Blue bird will review the information and, where needed, will forward replacement brake chambers…

    Model years: 1992, 1993

13. Hose, piping, and connections (steering)

    NHTSA 93V203000 Reported December 6, 1993 259 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    The hydraulic hoses which interconnect with the hydraulic pump, hydraulic radiator fan motor and power steering gear have an undersized wire mesh core which results in an improper hose end crimp. The improper crimp can cause a leak, emptying the power steering hydraulic fluid reservoir, resulting in loss of power steering assist.

    Remedy: Owners are being asked to inspect hose for the date code 3-1q93 which is embossed on the hose cover every 18 inches. Replacement hoses will be provided. Owners can handle the repair themselves or have a blue bird…

    Model years: 1993

14. Service brakes, air

    NHTSA 93V081000 Reported May 17, 1993 173 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    The front brake air lines are incorrectly routed through the pressure protection valve at the auxiliary wet tank. This results in lack of air pressure to the front brakes when the air pressure in the auxiliary wet tank drops below 65 p.s.i., resulting in inoperable front brakes.

    Remedy: Correctly reroute the brake lines.

    Model years: 1992, 1993

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.