Blue Bird Sbcv Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 9 safety recalls and 1 owner complaint across 19 model years of the Blue Bird Sbcv (1980–1998). The most-complained-about year is 1997.

Pick your Blue Bird Sbcv model year

• 1980
• 1981
• 1982
• 1983
• 1984
• 1985
• 1986
• 1987
• 1988
• 1989
• 1990
• 1991
• 1992
• 1993
• 1994
• 1995
• 1996
• 1997
• 1998

What Blue Bird Sbcv owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 1 complaint with NHTSA. The 1997 model year has the most, with 1.

• Structure: frame and members12

All Blue Bird Sbcv recalls (9)

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

1. Exterior (visibility)

   NHTSA 98V037000 Reported February 23, 1998 564 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Vehicle description: school buses mounted on freightliner fs-65 chassis. Buses equipped with system "b" mirrors do not fully comply with the requirements of FMVSS no. 111, "rearview mirrors."

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect these vehicles and if necessary, correct the mirror installations.

   Model years: 1997, 1998

2. Seats

   NHTSA 96V126001 Reported July 11, 1996 11,371 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Vehicle description: school buses equipped with bostrom driver's seat model f222 or bostrum "routemaster" seat. Blue bird option 2821 or 2824. The seat pedestals are fatigue cracking adjacent to the weld which secures the pedestal's upper plate to the upper, telescoping portion of the adjustable column support.

   Remedy: Dealers will repair these pedestals with a newly designed pedestal bracket kit.

   Model years: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996

3. Body (structure)

   NHTSA 96V073000 Reported May 3, 1996 18,000 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the forward handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

   Remedy: Owners will be directed to remove all forward handrails. Provisions will be made for those owners operating in states which mandate a forward handrail that a replacement handrail will be provided.

   Model years: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996

4. Body (structure)

   NHTSA 96V078000 Reported May 3, 1996 203 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus.

   Remedy: Replace or reposition the handrails to stop clothing from being caught.

   Model years: 1994, 1995, 1996

5. Fuses and circuit breakers (electrical system)

   NHTSA 96V011000 Reported January 23, 1996 307 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   The wrong circuit breaker was installed in the electrical panel which could cause an interruption of the 8-light warning system.

   Remedy: Owners will be notified to check and replace as necessary the circuit breakers. Owners can also have these circuit breakers checked and replaced at an authorized dealer.

   Model years: 1995

6. Glass, side/rear (visibility)

   NHTSA 96V023000 Reported January 1, 1996 117 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   These vehicles could have a latch which scrapes an aluminum trim piece increasing the force required to open. This does not comply with FMVSS no. 217, "bus window retention and release."

   Remedy: Dealers will install a new cam lock plate.

   Model years: 1995

7. Body (structure)

   NHTSA 95V187000 Reported October 2, 1995 74,000 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Passengers clothing can unknowingly become caught in the handrails at the bus doors when exiting the bus.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the existing floor line handrail attachment bracket with the current production design floor line bracket.

   Model years: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988

8. Body (structure)

   NHTSA 95V150000 Reported August 7, 1995 2,557 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   The floor line handrail bracket can expand during use and create an opening which could entrap coat strings, etc. And other articles of clothing.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the flat split floor line bracket with a round tubular bracket.

   Model years: 1994, 1995, 1996

9. Knee bolster (air bags)

   NHTSA 95V051000 Reported March 14, 1995 2,309 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   The aisle side styrofoam knee pads on the subject barriers are 11" wide and not 14.5" as required by FMVSS no. 222, "school bus passenger seating and crash protection."

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the incorrect pad with the correct 14.5" knee pad.

   Model years: 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995

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.