The defect
CERTAIN BLUE BIRD 1999-2005 ALL AMERICAN, TC/2000, MICRO BIRD, VISION, CONVENTIONAL, AND COMMERCIAL SERIES SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOC WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS AND MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 17, 1999, AND AUGUST 13, 2004. CERTAIN SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR TIE-DOWN SECUREMENT ASSEMBLIES P/N 8625-13. THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE LOAD PAWL NOT TO FULLY SEAT IN THE SPROCKET TEETH.
The risk
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.
The remedy
BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 21, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR BUSES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2004, 2005 |
| Blue Bird Commercial Series | 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Blue Bird Conventional | 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Blue Bird Micro Bird | 2002, 2003, 2004 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 2001, 2002, 2003 |
| Blue Bird Vision | 2004, 2005 |
Components: EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
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 | 2004 | 10 | 15 |
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2005 | 1 | 13 |
| Blue Bird Commercial Series | 1999 | 0 | 11 |
| Blue Bird Commercial Series | 2000 | 0 | 7 |
| Blue Bird Commercial Series | 2001 | 0 | 6 |
| Blue Bird Commercial Series | 2002 | 0 | 5 |
| Blue Bird Commercial Series | 2003 | 0 | 3 |
| Blue Bird Commercial Series | 2004 | 0 | 3 |
| 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 Micro Bird | 2002 | 0 | 5 |
| Blue Bird Micro Bird | 2003 | 0 | 5 |
| Blue Bird Micro Bird | 2004 | 0 | 5 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 2001 | 0 | 12 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 2002 | 0 | 11 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 2003 | 8 | 6 |
| Blue Bird Vision | 2004 | 0 | 17 |
| Blue Bird Vision | 2005 | 1 | 15 |
Other equipment adaptive/mobility recalls in 2004
17 of the 601 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2004 concerned the equipment adaptive/mobility; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 04V589000 15 Dec 2004 | ACCUBUILT, INC. |
| 04V562000 26 Nov 2004 | MOBILITY WORKS |
| 04V521000 2 Nov 2004 | CHAMPION BUS, INC. |
| 04V534000 1 Nov 2004 | ELDORADO NATIONAL - CALIFORNIA, INC. |
| 04V520000 26 Oct 2004 | STARCRAFT BUS AND MOBILITY |
| 04V509000 19 Oct 2004 | ORION BUS INDUSTRIES LTD. |
| 04V505000 15 Oct 2004 | DAIMLERCHRYSLER COMMERCIAL BUSES NC |
| 04V500000 14 Oct 2004 | GILLIG CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2004