The defect
BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 33 MY 2006-2007 EXPRESS 4500 MOTOR COACHES EQUIPPED WITH MAC TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES THAT DID NOT MEET DESIGN SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE LEFT AND/OR RIGHT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY MAY FRACTURE AT HIGH MILEAGE.
The risk
A FRACTURE TIE ROD MAY SEPARATE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAUSING UNEXPECTED LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING. IN SOME MANEUVERS THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES WITH A REDESIGNED TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 11, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird Express 4500 | 2006, 2007 |
Components: STEERING:LINKAGES:TIE ROD ASSEMBLY
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 4500 | 2006 | 0 | 3 |
| Blue Bird Express 4500 | 2007 | 0 | 2 |
Other steering recalls in 2008
62 of the 683 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2008 concerned the steering; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 08V682000 19 Dec 2008 | MERCEDES-BENZ USA, LLC. |
| 08V610000 24 Nov 2008 | PREVOST CARS, INC. |
| 08V616000 24 Nov 2008 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 08V578000 3 Nov 2008 | MONACO COACH CORPORATION |
| 08V577000 3 Nov 2008 | VOLKSWAGEN OF AMERICA, INC |
| 08V571000 29 Oct 2008 | WINNEBAGO INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 08V566000 28 Oct 2008 | AUTOCAR, LLC |
| 08V575000 24 Oct 2008 | TADANO AMERICA CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2008