The defect
CERTAIN COACHES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL RESTROOM FAIL TO COMPLY WITH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." THE PUSHOUT WINDOW LOCATED ON THE RIGHT SIDE, AT THE REAR OF THE BUS, IS SUBSTANTIALLY OBSTRUCTED BY THE RESTROOM AND YET IT IS LABELED AS AN EMERGENCY EXIT.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, AN OCCUPANT MAY NOT BE ABLE TO PROPERLY EXIT THE VEHICLE.
The remedy
DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS WILL BE NOTIFIED TO REMOVE THE LABEL IDENTIFYING THE WINDOW AS AN EMERGENCY EXIT. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN SEPTEMBER 20, 2002. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242, IF THEY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by OVSC
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird LTC 40 | 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 |
Components: EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS
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 LTC 40 | 1998 | 0 | 7 |
| Blue Bird LTC 40 | 1999 | 0 | 8 |
| Blue Bird LTC 40 | 2000 | 1 | 5 |
| Blue Bird LTC 40 | 2001 | 0 | 4 |
| Blue Bird LTC 40 | 2002 | 0 | 3 |
| Blue Bird LTC 40 | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
Other equipment recalls in 2002
43 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the equipment; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 02V276010 18 Dec 2002 | WAGNER TRAILER INTERIORS, INC. |
| 02V276008 18 Dec 2002 | DODGEN INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 02V277008 11 Dec 2002 | NORTHLAND INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 02V277005 10 Dec 2002 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 02V276006 3 Dec 2002 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES INC. |
| 02V276007 3 Dec 2002 | ALFA LEISURE,INC. |
| 02V276009 2 Dec 2002 | THOR INDUSTRIES |
| 02V277006 25 Nov 2002 | K.Z. INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002