The defect
ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES AND TRANSIT COACHES, INCORRECT TORQUE APPLICATION COULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO THE CLAMP BOLTS AND THE DRAG LINK.
The risk
THIS COULD LEAD TO THE CLAMPS BECOMING LOOSE, CAUSING MISALIGNMENT OF THE STEERING AXLES, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE CLAMP BOLTS AND AND TIGHTEN TO THE REQUIRED TORQUE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON APRIL 7, 2004. OWNERS SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird Express 3500 | 2003 |
| Blue Bird Express 4000 | 2003, 2004 |
| Blue Bird Express 4500 | 2004 |
| Blue Bird Wanderlodge | 2003, 2004 |
Components: STEERING:LINKAGES
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 Express 3500 | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Express 4000 | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Express 4000 | 2004 | 0 | 4 |
| Blue Bird Express 4500 | 2004 | 0 | 4 |
| Blue Bird Wanderlodge | 2003 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Wanderlodge | 2004 | 0 | 1 |
Other steering recalls in 2004
30 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the steering; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 04V610000 28 Dec 2004 | GILLIG CORPORATION |
| 04V579000 9 Dec 2004 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER CORPORATION |
| 04V567000 9 Dec 2004 | PIERCE MANUFACTURING |
| 04V522000 3 Nov 2004 | MITSUBISHI FUSO TRUCK OF AMERICA, INC. |
| 04V474000 1 Oct 2004 | NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 04V448000 20 Sept 2004 | HINO MOTORS SALES U.S.A., INC. |
| 04V456000 20 Sept 2004 | MACK TRUCKS, INC |
| 04V424000 30 Aug 2004 | VAN HOOL, N.V. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004