The defect
ON CERTAIN FRONT ENGINE SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKES, THE REAR HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE COULD CONTACT THE FRAME RAIL AND ABRADE, ALLOWING BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.
The risk
IF THIS OCCURS, VEHICLE BRAKING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE REAR BRAKE HOSE TO FRAME RAIL CLEARANCE AND REPOSITION THE BRAKE HOSE CLAMPS AT THE AXLE TO ENSURE ADEQUATE CLEARANCE. ANY CHAFED BRAKE HOSES WILL BE REPLACED. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 12, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2003, 2004 |
| Blue Bird Commercial | 2003, 2004 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 2003, 2004 |
Components: SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
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 | 2003 | 2 | 11 |
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2004 | 10 | 15 |
| Blue Bird Commercial | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Commercial | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 2003 | 8 | 6 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 2004 | 0 | 5 |
Other service brakes, hydraulic recalls in 2002
26 of the 434 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2002 concerned the service brakes, hydraulic; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 02V343000 30 Dec 2002 | IC CORPORATION |
| 02V309000 15 Nov 2002 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK AND ENGINE |
| 02V278000 22 Oct 2002 | MONACO COACH CORP. |
| 02V280000 17 Oct 2002 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
| 02V266000 2 Oct 2002 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 02V268000 1 Oct 2002 | TOYOTA MOTOR NORTH AMERICA, INC. |
| 02V257001 18 Sept 2002 | DAEWOO MOTOR DE PUERTO RICO |
| 02V257000 18 Sept 2002 | DAEWOO MOTOR AMERICA |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2002