The defect
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.
The risk
IF THIS CONDITION OCCURS, THE DRIVER CAN LOSE PARTIAL CONTROL OF THE RIGHT FRONT WHEEL, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A CRASH.
The 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 FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-912-822-2242 OR TRW CUSTOMER SERVICE AT 1-866-280-3287.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird ALL American | 1999 |
| Blue Bird Commercial Series | 1999 |
| Blue Bird LTC 40 | 1999 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1999 |
| Blue Bird Wanderlodge | 1999 |
Components: STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
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 | 1999 | 0 | 16 |
| Blue Bird Commercial Series | 1999 | 0 | 11 |
| Blue Bird LTC 40 | 1999 | 0 | 8 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1999 | 5 | 15 |
| Blue Bird Wanderlodge | 1999 | 0 | 9 |
Other steering recalls in 2001
48 of the 461 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2001 concerned the steering; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 01V389000 21 Dec 2001 | MACK TRUCKS, INCORPORATED |
| 01V140008 19 Dec 2001 | MOTOR COACH IND., INC. |
| 01V379000 13 Dec 2001 | EQUIPEMENT LABRIE LTEE |
| 01V353000 15 Nov 2001 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 01V343000 7 Nov 2001 | GLOBAL ELECTRIC MOTORCARS, LLC |
| 01V313000 4 Oct 2001 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 01V314000 3 Oct 2001 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
| 01V304000 25 Sept 2001 | PREVOST CAR, INCORPORATED |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2001