Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2016 Blue Bird Vision, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine1
- Service brakes1
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 0 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls
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.
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."
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."
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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.
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2016 Vision and All American school buses, equipped with certain QS11, QSCR11, QSJ11, and Davenport school bus seats that include three-point lap/shoulder seat belts. These seats may have a loose or missing D-ring mounting nut, allowing the shoulder belt D-ring to detach in a crash.
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.
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.
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Vision transit buses manufactured September 24, 2015, to May 21, 2016, equipped with 6.8L Ford engines and Gen 3 propane units. The affected vehicles have propane fuel lines that may rub or are crossed and secured together, possibly resulting in line damage and a propane fuel leak.
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 Vision school buses manufactured July 3, 2014, to June 24, 2016, equipped with 6.8L Ford engines and Gen 3 propane units. The affected vehicles have propane fuel lines that may rub or are crossed and secured together, possibly resulting in line damage and a propane fuel leak.
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 All American transit buses manufactured from November 13, 2014, through May 4, 2016, and 2016-2017 Vision transit buses manufactured from May 30, 2015, through February 2, 2016, equipped with Ricon S-Series (S2005 and S5510) wheelchair lifts. In the affected vehicles the platform side plate on the wheelchair lifts may crack. Additionally, the lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 All American school buses manufactured May 18, 2015, to November 9, 2015, and Vision school buses manufactured May 8, 2015, to October 27, 2015, equipped with certain Transpec T6000, T6100, and T7000 series school bus stop arms. The affected stop arms have a reflective decal that may peel loose from the stop arm. As such, these stop arms fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 131, "School Bus Pedestrian Safety Devices."
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling one 2017 Vision transit bus. In the affected vehicle, the windshield wiper motor harness connector may have been installed incorrectly, causing the wiper system to stop without warning.
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Vision school buses manufactured September 3, 2015, to September 18, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the windshield wiper motor harness connector may have been installed incorrectly, causing the wiper system to stop without warning.
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2016 Vision school buses manufactured on August 16, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the Engine Control Module (ECM) may short circuit, causing the engine to stall without warning.
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2016 Vision and All American rear engine school buses manufactured February 11, 2015, to April 2, 2015. The affected vehicles have seat bottoms whose foam core may not meet the flammability requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 302, "Flammability of Interior Materials."
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Vision school buses manufactured June 19, 2014, to December 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the voltage inverter for the illumination of the driver's heater control panel may fail.
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Vision non-school transit buses manufactured June 19, 2014, to December 11, 2014. In the affected vehicles, the voltage inverter for the illumination of the driver's heater control panel may fail.
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 All American A3FE, A3RE, T3FE, T3RE, and D3RE school buses manufactured June 28, 2012, to September 25, 2014, and 2013-2016 Vision BBCV school buses manufactured June 9, 2012, to September 30, 2014. Incorrect fasteners may have been used to secure the seat gusset reinforcement to the side wall resulting in the seat belts being improperly anchored. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Vision and All American school buses manufactured July 8, 2014, to September 22, 2014. These buses, equipped with hydraulic brakes, may have an incorrectly manufactured parking brake pedal assembly which could separate and bend causing the parking brake not to engage properly.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Blue Bird told its dealers about the 2016 Blue Bird Vision: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10249468 | Uploading documents that will be sent out to customers to educate them about draglink maintenance. |
| 10249467 | Uploading documents that will be sent out to customers to educate them about draglink maintenance. |
| 10217921 | Cummins recently issued Temporary Repair Practice (TRP2484) for certain vehicles with DEF sensor failures in which DEF sensor replacement parts are not available. This provides a temporary ECM calibration that inhibits engine warning messages for communication errors with the DEF sensor allowing continued operation without engine derate. Regulators are allowing for this temporary calibration to be loaded in the engine ECM by a Cummins authorized repair location if the DEF sensor fails. This temporary calibration does not repair the failure therefore a final repair must be performed and the |
| 10201696 | SM1905: Blue Bird Vantage Dash Fault Codes Website Blue Bird Vantage "Dash Fault Codes" website page has been updated to include additional new fault codes for all applicable system types (brake, engine, and transmission). Also, "Powertrain, Ford" has been added to the drop-down tab as a system type selection. "Powertrain Ford" system type is used to identify both Ford engine and transmission fault codes. |
| 10201695 | SM1904: New Ametek Parts & Software New Ametek instrument cluster part numbers and software now listed on the Blue Bird Dealer Vantage website. Also listed is a new Ametek gateway module and applicable software. New Ametek gateway module is only applicable to the Ford Gasoline Vision. Revisions have been made to Ametek instrument cluster software that improve or addresses items noted below. Improved fuel level dampening (only affects diesel fuel systems) Average fuel economy not displaying accurately (only affects diesel fuel systems) High or fast idle set up process on service part re |
| 10201688 | The intent of Service Memorandum SM2001 is to Announce a New Blue Bird Dealer Process now available to perform a Ford Powertrain Control Module (PCM) modification remotely at the dealer service center location. This modification will be done using the Roush Diagnostic Tool (RDT). The RDT software version 10.04.0011 or higher is required. |
| 10200350 | Blue Bird Body Company has decided that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety exists in certain model year 2015-2019 Vision School Buses manufactured from July 18, 2014, through July 19, 2017, and certain model year 2018-2019 All American School Buses manufactured from November 28, 2016, through July 25, 2017. On the subject buses, C. E. White Company, a Subsidiary of Hickory Springs Manufacturing Company (HSM), has determined that a defect which relates to motor vehicle safety potentially exists in QS11 Convertible School Bus Seats. |
| 10200118 | NHTSA Recall number 17V-510 School bus. |
| 10197678 | Overview: Certain 2013 through 2022 model year Blue Bird Vision School and Non-School Bus units has experienced signs of single strand failing, leading to multiple stands, and eventually belt failure. The belt composition is not ideal for the life cycle of the bus. This Service Bulletin will provide owners with a one-time new replacement belt with the more durable material that is currently being used in production and for service. This Service Bulletin is for part cost coverage only. No labor reimbursement will be provided. Affected Units: Blue Bird Body Company is voluntarily issu |
| 10184352 | On the subject buses, the possibility exists for an oil leak between the axle shaft and hub. To correct this it is necessary to replace both existing rear axle flange gaskets with new gaskets. |
| 10184351 | Rear axle shaft flange gasket torque relaxes allowing for possible oil leak between the axle shaft and hub |
| 10184350 | Certain model year 2015-2017 Vision and All American School Buses manufactured from November 15, 2013 through August 3, 2016 and certain model year 2015-2017 Vision and All American Non-School Buses manufactured from July 20, 2014 through May 21, 2016 equipped with optional Air Disc Brakes will require replacement of both existing rear axle shaft flange gasket with a new gasket. The new rear axle shaft flange gasket reduces the possibility for oil leaking between the axle shaft and hub. Note: Service Bulletin Campaign S16YU replaces S16YN. |
| 10184347 | Will require inspection of the heater ppe installation at thr side emergency door. |
| 10184346 | Side Emergency Door Heater Pipe. |
| 10184345 | Will require inspection of the heater pipe installation at the side emergency |
| 10184344 | Side Emergency Door Heater Pipe. |
| 10184343 | Side Emergency Door Heater Pipe. |
| 10184342 | Equipped with optional Air Disk Brake will require replacement of both existing |
| 10184341 | Rear Air Disc Brake Axle Shaft Flange Gasket Replacement. |
| 10184340 | Equipped with optional Air Disk Brake will require replacement of both existing |
| 10184338 | Rear Air Disc Brake Axle Shaft Flange Gasket Replacement. |
| 10184326 | Recall R17YZ, HSM/C E White 3-Point Belt D-Ring Mounting Nut |
| 10184325 | Blue Bird has determined that some school bus seats equipped with 3-Point Lap/Shoulder Belts may contain loose or missing (due to a loose mounting nut |
| 10184322 | The chassis mounted battery box support bracket(s) on certain Vision buses may develop cracks or fracture and could allow the battery box to separate from the chassis and fall. |
| 10184321 | The chassis mounted battery box support brackets may develop cracks or fracture and could allow the battery box to separate from the chassis and fall. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
Blue Bird Draglink Failures
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation