2018 BLUE BIRD VISION

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Blue Bird Bus Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Vision transit buses equipped with 6.8L gasoline engines. The coating on the fuel lines may have been improperly applied, which can result in a fuel leak.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Blue Bird Bus Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Vision school buses equipped with 6.8L gasoline engines. The coating on the fuel lines may have been improperly applied, which can result in a fuel leak.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2021 All American and Vision School Buses, equipped with PowerDrive 7000 electric drive systems. The System Control Module (SCM) may activate the anti-rollback feature, causing the vehicle to reverse faster than expected when the vehicle is in reverse and pointing downhill with the brake pedal not applied.

Risk: A vehicle reversing faster than expected can increase the risk of a crash.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2013-2021 Vision school buses equipped with Ford 6.8L LPG engines. The LPG supply line may be damaged from contact with the RH park brake cable, which can result in a fuel leak.

Risk: A fuel leak in the presence of an ignition source increases the risk of a fire.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:DELIVERY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2023 Blue Bird Vision transit buses equipped with Roush fuel return lines included in GEN 4 and GEN 5 LPG Conversion Systems that were installed on vehicles sold or registered in Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington D.C., West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The zinc-plating on the fuel return line may break away when contacted by road debris, causing two dissimilar metals on the fuel line to contact each other and corrode.

Risk: A corroded fuel line can leak fuel, increasing the risk of a fire.

STEERING

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Vision and All American school buses. The drivetrain may experience an electromagnetic noise on the Control Area Network (CAN) bus, which may cause a loss of electrical power to the power steering pump.

Risk: A loss of assisted power steering increases the risk of a crash.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:SOFTWARE

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Vision and All American school buses. The electric drive train cannot detect isolation faults when the high voltage contactors are closed.

Risk: An undetected high voltage isolation can expose service personnel to high voltage, increasing the risk of injury.

PARKING BRAKE

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2009-2019 Vision transit buses. The floor-mounted parking brake may fail to hold the vehicle stationary on an incline when the vehicle is loaded to its maximum weight, due to an insufficient application force. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 105 "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems."

Risk: A parking brake system that is set to an insufficient application force may result in an increased possibility of unintended vehicle movement, which increases the risk of injury to bystanders.

PARKING BRAKE

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2006-2021 Vision and 2007-2013 All American school buses. The floor-mounted parking brake may fail to hold the vehicle stationary on an incline when the vehicle is loaded to its maximum weight, due to an insufficient application force. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 105, "Hydraulic and Electric Brake Systems."

Risk: A parking brake system that is set to an insufficient application force may result in an increased possibility of unintended vehicle movement, which increases the risk of a crash.

SEATS:BARRIERS

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2008-2021 Vision and All American school buses. The seat barrier behind the driver seat with an integrated 3-point seat belt may have been installed incorrectly and may be missing the reinforcing bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."

Risk: In the event of a crash, the seat barrier may not adequately protect the occupant seated behind the seat barrier separating them from the driver seat with integrated 3-point seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.

POWER TRAIN

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Vision and All American school buses equipped with 7000 EV electric drivetrain units. A connector within the wire harnesses may become unplugged causing loss of communication between control modules, resulting in sudden loss of drive power and power steering.

Risk: A sudden loss of drive power and loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash.

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:MECHANICAL:LINKAGE AND CABLE

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2021 Vision school buses equipped with Ford 6.8L gasoline engines with an optional right-hand mounted parking brake lever. Due to improper routing of the parking brake cables, the parking brake cable may contact and chafe the gasoline fuel line, potentially causing a fuel leak.

Risk: A fuel leak increases the risk of a fire.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Vision and All American school buses equipped with Bendix ADB22X air brakes. The driver side rear brakes may drag.

Risk: A dragging brake may cause damage to the brake components, which may activate the ABS warning light. The warning light may cause the driver to immediately stop the vehicle and transfer occupants. Additionally, the high temperatures at the wheel end can increase the risk of a fire. Either condition increases the risk of injury.

EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Vision and All American school buses equipped with Ricon S-Series Titanium Wheelchair lifts. The wheelchair lift positioning input cam may fail while the lift is in use, allowing the platform to travel higher than the vehicle's floor height. As such, this vehicle fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 403, "Platform Lift Systems."

Risk: If the wheelchair lift platform raises above the height of the vehicle floor, the wheelchair user could fall inwards toward the vehicle, increasing their risk of injury.

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Vision and All American school buses equipped with PowerDrive 7000 EV electric drivetrains. The Vehicle Control Unit (VCU) may unexpectedly shut down the high voltage contactors, resulting in loss of all systems powered by high voltage, including the traction drive system and power steering.

Risk: An unexpected loss of drive and power steering may increase the risk of a crash.

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Vision and All American school buses equipped with Cummins PowerDrive 7000 EV electric drivetrain units. Due to a software error, the VCU may activate the anti-roll back feature during slow moving or stop and go conditions, which can cause unexpected vehicle movement.

Risk: Unexpected vehicle movement can increase the risk of a crash.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DISC:CALIPER

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Vision and 2015-2020 All American non-school buses equipped with ADB22X disc brakes. The driver side rear brakes may drag.

Risk: A dragging brake may cause damage to the brake components, which may activate the ABS warning light. The warning light may cause the driver to immediately stop the vehicle and transfer occupants. Additionally, the high temperatures at the wheel end can increasing the risk of a fire. Either condition increases the risk of injury.

STRUCTURE:EMERGENCY:ESCAPE/EGRESS/EXIT

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Vision and All American school buses equipped with Specialty Manufacturing Prolo roof emergency exit hatches. Due to a manufacturing issue, the roof hatch external handle may unexpectedly break under reasonable use. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 217, "Bus Emergency Exits and Window Retention and Release."

Risk: If the roof hatch external handle breaks, in the event of an emergency, the hatch cannot be easily opened from outside the vehicle, increasing the risk of injury.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2013-2020 Vision transit buses equipped with Ford engines. The brake light switch mounting bracket may have caused the brake light switch to be incorrectly adjusted at installation and/or the brake light switch mounting bracket may deform when the driver allows the brake pedal to return forcibly. An incorrectly adjusted brake light switch or deformed brake light switch mounting bracket may cause the brake lights to illuminate continuously.

Risk: Improperly functioning brake lights could confuse following motorists and fail to warn them that the bus may be stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.

EXTERIOR LIGHTING:BRAKE LIGHTS:SWITCH

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2013-2020 Vision school buses equipped with Ford engines. The brake light switch mounting bracket may have caused the brake light switch to be incorrectly adjusted at installation and/or the brake light switch mounting bracket may deform when the driver allows the brake pedal to return forcibly. An incorrectly adjusted brake light switch or deformed brake light switch mounting bracket may cause the brake lights to illuminate continuously.

Risk: Improperly functioning brake lights could confuse following motorists and fail to warn them that the bus may be stopping, increasing the risk of a crash.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Blue Bird Vision transit buses equipped with the Ford 6.8L V10 engines. The hydraulic brake lines or transmission shifter cable may have been improperly routed, causing the brake line to be exposed to excessive heat, and leak hydraulic brake fluid. Additionally, the transmission shifter cable could contact the gasoline fuel supply line to the engine which may result in a fuel leak.

Risk: A hydraulic brake fluid leak or a fuel line failure can increase the risk of a fire.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2013-2020 Blue Bird Vision school buses equipped with the Ford 6.8L V10 engines. The hydraulic brake lines or transmission shifter cable may have been improperly routed, causing the brake line to be exposed to excessive heat, and leak hydraulic brake fluid. Additionally, the transmission shifter cable could contact the gasoline fuel supply line to the engine which may result in a fuel leak.

Risk: A hydraulic brake fluid leak or a fuel line failure can increase the risk of a fire.

PARKING BRAKE:CONVENTIONAL:AIR

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Vision school buses equipped with Cummins ISV5.0 diesel engines with optional CP80009 air compressors. The air compressor belt may slip, reducing air output, which may result in the parking brake automatically applying.

Risk: If the parking brake applies while the vehicle is being driven, it can increase the risk of a crash.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:ALTERNATOR/GENERATOR/REGULATOR

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Vision school buses with Ford 6.8L Gen IV LPG, Gasoline, or CNG engines. The alternator cables may not be routed correctly and may contact and chafe against the air conditioning support bracket or a firewall reinforcement.

Risk: A damaged alternator cable could cause result in an electrical short, increasing the risk of a fire.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Blue Bird All American and Vision school buses. The primary and secondary air brake gauges on the instrument cluster may intermittently indicate "0 PSI" instead of the correct air pressure in the tanks. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Risk: If the gauges do not correctly display the air pressure that is in the tanks, the operator will not be able to know when the air pressure is actually dropping, increasing the risk of a crash.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Blue Bird Vision school buses equipped with Gen4 Ford engines with an optional brake and throttle interlock. The brake and throttle interlock is supposed to apply the service brakes and prevent accelerator pedal input when activated, however the throttle input is not being blocked.

Risk: If throttle input is allowed, the bus may be able to overpower the applied brake, causing the bus to move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash or an injury.

SERVICE BRAKES, AIR

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Blue Bird All American and Vision transit buses. The primary and secondary air brake gauges on the instrument cluster may intermittently indicate "0 PSI" instead of the correct air pressure in the tanks. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 121, "Air Brake Systems."

Risk: If the gauges do not correctly display the air pressure that is in the tanks, the operator will not be able to know when the air pressure is actually dropping, increasing the risk of a crash.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL:ACCELERATOR PEDAL

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Blue Bird Vision transit buses equipped with Gen4 Ford engines with an optional brake and throttle interlock. The brake and throttle interlock is supposed to apply the service brakes and prevent accelerator pedal input when activated, however the throttle input is not being blocked.

Risk: If throttle input is allowed, the bus may be able to overpower the applied brake, causing the bus to move unexpectedly, increasing the risk of a crash or an injury.

FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Vision school buses, designed to run on propane. The fuel control valve solenoid may short circuit, shutting off the flow of propane to the engine, causing the engine to shut off.

Risk: An engine stall while driving increases the risk of a crash.

STRUCTURE

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Vision school buses manufactured February 19, 2014, through March 3, 2017, equipped with a frame mounted battery box. The support brackets for these battery boxes may crack causing the battery box to separate from the chassis.

Risk: If the battery box detaches, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.

SEATS

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2015-2019 Vision and model year 2016 All American school buses equipped with certain QS11 series convertible school bus seats supplied by CE White/HSM Solutions. The integral D-Ring mounting stud located in the upper area of the seat back frame does not provide an adequate padding surface between the seat occupant and the D-Ring mounting stud.

Risk: In a rear crash event, the occupant's head may contact the D-Ring mounting stud, resulting in a head injury or even death.

STRUCTURE

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Vision transit buses equipped with frame mounted battery boxes. The support brackets for these battery boxes may crack causing the battery box to separate from the chassis.

Risk: If the battery box detaches, it can become a road hazard, increasing the risk of a crash.