The defect
BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 2,203 MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2010 ALL AMERICAN REAR ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL PLUG STYLE VANDAL LOCKS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 16, 2003 THROUGH APRIL 10, 2009. THE PLUG STYLE VANDAL LOCK IS NOT WIRED TO INHIBIT THE STARTER AT THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE VANDAL LOCK IS IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."
The risk
THE VEHICLES CAN BE STARTED AND DRIVEN EVEN WHEN AN OWNER MAY THINK THEY CANNOT.
The remedy
BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 25, 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-422-2242.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
Model years in this recall
NHTSA complaints and the number of recall campaigns for each model year this recall covers.
Other electrical system recalls in 2009
34 of the 491 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2009 concerned the electrical system; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 09V454000 25 Nov 2009 | CHRYSLER LLC |
| 09V446000 18 Nov 2009 | MOTOR COACH INDUSTRIES, INC |
| 09V437000 6 Nov 2009 | ROADTREK MOTORHOMES INC. |
| 09V384000 29 Sept 2009 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 09V371000 29 Sept 2009 | NORTH AMERICAN BUS INDUSTRIES, INC. |
| 09V343000 1 Sept 2009 | VOLVO CARS OF N.A. LLC. |
| 09V327000 11 Aug 2009 | BMW OF NORTH AMERICA, LLC |
| 09V260000 6 Jul 2009 | NEWMAR CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2009