The defect
ON CERTAIN COMMERCIALTRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH VAPOR DOOR ASSEMBLIES, THE TWO PIECE CURVED CONNECTING RODS WHEN USED AS AN ELEMENT OF THE DOOR ACTUATION LINKAGE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A VAPOR MEDIUM PNEUMATIC DIFFERENTIAL ENGINE, MAY BE SUBJECT TO FATIGUE FAILURE RESULTING IN BENDING OR BREAKING OF THE CONNECTING ROD.
The risk
A BROKEN CONNECTING ROD CAN ALLOW THE DOOR PANEL TO MOVE FREELY IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER, LEAVING PASSENGERS INSIDE THE VEHICLE UNPROTECTED BY THE DOOR PANEL AND ENABLING A PROTRUDING DOOR PANEL TO STRIKE PERSONS OR OBJECTS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.
The remedy
BLUE BIRD IS WORKING WITH VAPOR BUS INTERNATIONAL TO NOTIFY OWNERS AND HAVE THE REPAIR PERFORMED ON THEIR VEHICLES. THE REMEDY CONSISTS OF REPLACING THE TWO PIECE CONNECTING ROD WITH A ONE PIECE CONNECTING ROD. THE RECALL BEGAN ON OCTOBER 18, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242 OR VAPOR AT 847-777-6400.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird Ultra LF | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
Components: STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR:HINGE AND ATTACHMENTS
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 Ultra LF | 2003 | 0 | 5 |
| Blue Bird Ultra LF | 2004 | 0 | 6 |
| Blue Bird Ultra LF | 2005 | 0 | 6 |
| Blue Bird Ultra LF | 2006 | 0 | 4 |
Other structure recalls in 2005
29 of the 562 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2005 concerned the structure; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 05V573000 28 Dec 2005 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 05V561000 20 Dec 2005 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 05V534000 21 Nov 2005 | COTTRELL, INC. |
| 05V523000 16 Nov 2005 | INTERNATIONAL TRUCK & ENGINE CORPORATION |
| 05V521000 9 Nov 2005 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
| 05V472000 13 Oct 2005 | LES ENTREPRISES M.CORBEIL |
| 05V471000 13 Oct 2005 | LES ENTREPRISES M.CORBEIL |
| 05V413000 20 Sept 2005 | SALEEN, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2005