The defect
ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL SEAT BELTS OR SEAT BELT "READY" SEATS, SOME BELTS WERE INSTALLED WITH ONLY TWO BOLTS RATHER THAN THE REQUIRED THREE (3) BOLTS.
The risk
THESE SEATS COULD DETACH FROM THE WALL SIDE ATTACHMENT POINTS IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
The remedy
BLUE BIRD WILL FURNISH TO DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS, PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY TO INSTALL THE MISSING BOLT FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO ON NOVEMBER 3, 2003. 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 1-478-822-2242.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Blue Bird Conventional | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
Components: SEATS
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 | 2001 | 1 | 14 |
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2002 | 1 | 14 |
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2003 | 2 | 11 |
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2004 | 10 | 15 |
| Blue Bird Conventional | 2001 | 0 | 6 |
| Blue Bird Conventional | 2002 | 0 | 7 |
| Blue Bird Conventional | 2003 | 1 | 6 |
| Blue Bird Conventional | 2004 | 0 | 7 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 2001 | 0 | 12 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 2002 | 0 | 11 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 2003 | 8 | 6 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 2004 | 0 | 5 |
Other seats recalls in 2003
15 of the 527 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2003 concerned the seats; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 03V530000 12 Dec 2003 | ACCUBUILT, INC. |
| 03V514000 10 Dec 2003 | SAAB CARS USA, INC. |
| 03V459000 6 Nov 2003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V402000 16 Oct 2003 | MID BUS CORPORATION |
| 03V346000 29 Sept 2003 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 03V345000 15 Sept 2003 | FERRARI NORTH AMERICA |
| 03V281000 5 Aug 2003 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 03V235000 1 Jul 2003 | ALFA LEISURE,INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2003