The defect
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.
The risk
UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, SUCH AS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, DRIVER ACTIVATES THE PARKING BRAKE BUT REMOVES FOOT FROM THE THREADLE VALVE, THE BUS COULD ROLL BEFORE THE PARKING BRAKE IS FULLY ENGAGED.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIAPHRAGMS WITH HOLES WITH SOLID DIAPHRAGMS FOR THE QR1C VALVES.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird ALL American | 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Blue Bird Commercial | 2000 |
| Blue Bird Commercial Series | 1997, 1998, 1999 |
| Blue Bird LTC 40 | 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Blue Bird Q-BUS | 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 |
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:CONTROLS:FOOT CONTROL/VALVE
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
| Model | Year | Complaints | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|
| Blue Bird ALL American | 1997 | 0 | 3 |
| Blue Bird ALL American | 1998 | 1 | 9 |
| Blue Bird ALL American | 1999 | 0 | 16 |
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2000 | 0 | 16 |
| Blue Bird Commercial | 2000 | 0 | 3 |
| Blue Bird Commercial Series | 1997 | 0 | 3 |
| Blue Bird Commercial Series | 1998 | 0 | 7 |
| Blue Bird Commercial Series | 1999 | 0 | 11 |
| Blue Bird LTC 40 | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Blue Bird LTC 40 | 1998 | 0 | 7 |
| Blue Bird LTC 40 | 1999 | 0 | 8 |
| Blue Bird LTC 40 | 2000 | 1 | 5 |
| Blue Bird Q-BUS | 1997 | 0 | 2 |
| Blue Bird Q-BUS | 1998 | 0 | 4 |
| Blue Bird Q-BUS | 1999 | 0 | 5 |
| Blue Bird Q-BUS | 2000 | 0 | 6 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1997 | 0 | 8 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1998 | 0 | 17 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1999 | 5 | 15 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 2000 | 1 | 12 |
Other service brakes, air recalls in 2000
38 of the 541 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2000 concerned the service brakes, air; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 00V279004 18 Dec 2000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 00V400000 8 Dec 2000 | FOUR WINNS |
| 00V413000 6 Dec 2000 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 00V279006 28 Nov 2000 | ATHEY PRODUCTS CORP. |
| 00V279002 21 Nov 2000 | WESTERN RV, INC. |
| 00V357000 3 Nov 2000 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 00V335000 19 Oct 2000 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 00V279001 22 Sept 2000 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2000