Blue Bird Wanderlodge Recalls & Complaints by Model Year

NHTSA lists 23 safety recalls and 3 owner complaints across 32 model years of the Blue Bird Wanderlodge (1966–2005). The most-complained-about year is 1987.

Pick your Blue Bird Wanderlodge model year

• 1966
• 1967
• 1968
• 1969
• 1970
• 1971
• 1972
• 1973
• 1981
• 1982
• 1983
• 1984
• 1985
• 1986
• 1987
• 1988
• 1989
• 1990
• 1991
• 1993
• 1994
• 1995
• 1996
• 1997
• 1998
• 1999
• 2000
• 2001
• 2002
• 2003
• 2004
• 2005

What Blue Bird Wanderlodge owners complain about

Across all model years, owners have filed 3 complaints with NHTSA. The 1987 model year has the most, with 1.

• Tires: tread/belt1
• Steering1
• Service brakes, air1

All Blue Bird Wanderlodge recalls (23)

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

1. Recreational vehicle/trailer (equipment)

   NHTSA 08V286000 Reported July 1, 2008 83 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Blue bird is recalling 162 my 1999-2002 wanderlodge motor homes equipped with norcold model 1200lr or 1200lrim gas/electric refrigerators. A fatigue failure in the section of the cooling unit which contains the refrigerant could allow the liquid solution to slowly leak.

   Remedy: Blue bird is working with norcold to repair these refrigerators. Norcold will provide thermal switch kits to owners along with the necessary forms and instructions. The recall began on july 11, 2008. Owners may contact…

   Model years: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002

2. Fuses and circuit breakers (electrical system)

   NHTSA 04V494000 Reported October 15, 2004 10 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   On certain 45' motor homes, an incorrect bussbar cable connector was installed in the main power distribution box. Under high load conditions, arcing and shorting could occur which can destroy the bussbar assembly and cause loss of power to the engine.

   Remedy: Dealers replaced the incorrect 150 amp bussbar cable connector with a 600 amp bussbar cable connector. All vehicles have been repaired.

   Model years: 2005

3. Linkages (steering)

   NHTSA 04V153000 Reported March 26, 2004 98 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   On certain motor homes and transit coaches, incorrect torque application could have been applied to the clamp bolts and the drag link.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace the clamp bolts and and tighten to the required torque. Owner notification began on april 7, 2004. Owners should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

   Model years: 2003, 2004

4. Recreational vehicle/trailer (equipment)

   NHTSA 02V277003 Reported November 5, 2002 173 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Certain motor homes equipped with norcold refrigerator cooling units model numbers 1200lr and 1200rim with serial numbers between 700000 and 1008700 and manufactured between december 1996 and february 1999. These refrigerators can experience low cycle fatigue failure which can lead to the liquid solution slowly leaking from the sealed,…

   Remedy: Norcold will notify its customers and provide a replacement cooling unit free of charge. Owner notification began november 11, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date…

   Model years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

5. Automatic transmission (power train)

   NHTSA 02V154000 Reported June 13, 2002 436 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   On certain motor homes and tour coaches, a 'check trans' warning light which is required by allison transmission installation instructions was omitted. In the event the transmission shift selector malfunctions (looses power or sends erroneous signals to the transmission electronic control unit), the computer will stop accepting input…

   Remedy: Dealers will install a "check trans" warning light on these vehicles. Owner notification began july 31, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the…

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

6. Accelerator pedal (vehicle speed control)

   NHTSA 02V004005 Reported March 21, 2002 24 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   On certain motor coaches/motor homes equipped with electronic throttle control/accelerator pedals supplied by williams controls industries, the weld attaching the clevis to the plate has insufficient penetration and could allow the clevis to separate from the plate.

   Remedy: Dealers will replace these pedals. All vehicles have been inspected and corrected.

   Model years: 2001

7. 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

8. Trailer hitches

   NHTSA 00V126000 Reported May 5, 2000 195 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Vehicle description: motor home coaches. The trailer hitch may be inadequately welded to the chassis frame.

   Remedy: Dealers will inspect the welds and, if necessary, reweld the trailer hitch properly.

   Model years: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000

9. Unknown or other

   NHTSA 99V306001 Reported November 1, 1999 58 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

   Vehicle description: motor homes equipped with carbon monoxide alarms. Some of these alarms may have become contaminated during shipping which will diminish the sensitivity of the alarm to detect carbon monoxide.

   Remedy: Atwood will exchange these carbon monoxide alarms at no charge to the consumer.

   Model years: 1999, 2000

10. Suspension

    NHTSA 99V162000 Reported June 29, 1999 204 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Vehicle description: motor homes equipped with ridewell tag axles. Some of the ridewell tag axle and suspension assemblies have the brake s-cams incorrectly installed.

    Remedy: Owners will be provided with instructions for inspecting the brake s-cam and if found incorrect, instructions for correction of the s-cam installation.

    Model years: 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999

11. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 99V127000 Reported May 18, 1999 26 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Vehicle description: motor home coaches equipped with ridewell following tag axles. The ridewell following tag axle locking cylinders can allow the tag axle to off-steer, causing a rear end oversteer problem.

    Remedy: Dealers will modify these coaches to correct the oversteer problem.

    Model years: 1999

12. Suspension: rear

    NHTSA 99V119000 Reported May 17, 1999 10 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Vehicle description: motor homes equipped with ridewell tag axles. The ridewell tag axle caster control arm bolts can back out of the nut securing it, allowing the tag axle to move out of alignment.

    Remedy: Dealers will repair these vehicles.

    Model years: 1999

13. Furnace (equipment)

    NHTSA 98V167002 Reported July 22, 1998 379 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Vehicle description: motor homes equipped with aqua-hot heating systems, model 431-3 zone with engine loop. Fiberglass insulating material located under the burner head on the floor of the heater enclosure, can become soaked with fluids (ethylene glycol and/or diesel fuel).

    Remedy: Dealers will remove the insulation from beneath the diesel heating unit as well as from behind the control thermostat and air-conditioning heating element access covers.

    Model years: 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998

14. Vehicle speed control

    NHTSA 94V193000 Reported October 4, 1994 131 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Throttle sensor rod can separate from ball stud due to excessive wearing of rod-end internal surfaces.

    Remedy: Dealers will inspect and/or replace the throttle sensor rod assembly.

    Model years: 1989, 1990, 1991

15. Unknown or other

    NHTSA 92V010000 Reported January 22, 1992 283 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    The door wiring strap can break and prevent the door step from extending when the door is open.

    Remedy: Replace door strap wiring wth improved door strap wiring.

    Model years: 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991

16. Electrical system: front underhood

    NHTSA 88V071000 Reported April 26, 1988 200 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Turn indicator and headlight wiring harness can come in contact with the steering post.

    Remedy: Repair damaged wires and reroute wiring harness to avoid contact with steering post.

    Model years: 1987, 1988

17. Fuses and circuit breakers (electrical system)

    NHTSA 87V099000 Reported July 7, 1987 505 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Incorrect circuit breaker can become overloaded and trip, and not reset for 40-60 seconds.

    Remedy: Replace 50 amp breaker with 105 amp breaker.

    Model years: 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987

18. Latch (latches/locks/linkages)

    NHTSA 86V032000 Reported March 3, 1986 430 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Improper adjustment of entrance door causes latch to fail in the secondary latched position. Such failure places the motorhome in noncompliance with FMVSS 206, door locks and door retention. Consequence of defect: if primary door latch fails to maintain the door closed, the failure of the secondary latch will allow the door to open…

    Remedy: Provide instructions to owners for proper adjustment and in some cases provide new latches.

    Model years: 1981, 1982, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986

19. Antilock (service brakes)

    NHTSA 85V171000 Reported December 26, 1985 11 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    FMVSS 121 requires that the air operated oil line to the wet air pressure tank contain an automatic high pressure valve to protect the brake air lines. This pressure valve was omitted. Consequence of defect: the omission of the protection pressure valve could allow the air line pressure to increase to the point that it would damage the…

    Remedy: Add pressure protection valve to the tee in the air accessory line.

    Model years: 1985

20. Steering wheel/handle bar (steering)

    NHTSA 82V116000 Reported December 1, 1982 1,400 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    An imperfectly machined part may have been used in the steering column.

    Remedy: The dealer will inspect to see if coupling is defective and replace it if necessary, free of charge.

    Model years: 1982

21. Pedals and linkages (service brakes)

    NHTSA 73V144000 Reported July 2, 1973 406 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Model years: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972, 1973

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

    NHTSA 72V199000 Reported August 8, 1972 34 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Model years: 1972

23. Anchorage (seat belts)

    NHTSA 72V061000 Reported March 16, 1972 249 vehicles potentially affected BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

    Model years: 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1972

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.