The defect
BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2012 ALL AMERICAN AND VISION SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM AUGUST 2, 2011, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 2011, EQUIPPED WITH SPECTAL INDUSTRIES VERTICAL EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOWS. INCORRECT RIVETS MAY HAVE BEEN USED TO ATTACH THE HANDLES THAT AN OCCUPANT WOULD USE TO OPEN THE WINDOW IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY. THE PART NUMBERS FOR THE BLUE BIRD BUSES ARE AS FOLLOWS: 129185, 129195, 129197, 129199, 129201, 129202, 129203, 129205, 129207, 129209, 129210, 129228, 129230, 129232, 129234, 129236, 129238, 129240, 129242, AND 129243.
The risk
IF THE HANDLE IS ACTUATED DURING A NON-EMERGENCY SITUATION AND DETACHES, THE EMERGENCY WINDOW CANNOT BE RE-SECURED, POSING A RISK THAT CHILDREN MAY FALL OR CLIMB OUT. HOWEVER, IF THE HANDLE WERE TO DETACH DURING AN EMERGENCY, THE EXIT WINDOW WILL OPEN AND EGRESS THROUGH THE WINDOW WILL NOT BE HINDERED.
The remedy
BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS, AND PROVIDE REPAIR KITS, FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT NOVEMBER 14, 2011. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2012 |
| Blue Bird Vision | 2012 |
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 ALL American | 2012 | 0 | 30 |
| Blue Bird Vision | 2012 | 1 | 19 |
Other structure recalls in 2011
26 of the 597 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2011 concerned the structure; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 11V596000 23 Dec 2011 | CORP. MICRO BIRD, INC. |
| 11V566000 22 Nov 2011 | SOUTHEAST TOYOTA DISTRIBUTORS, LLC |
| 11V551000 10 Nov 2011 | PIERCE MANUFACTURING |
| 11V546000 9 Nov 2011 | STARTRANS BUS CORPORATION |
| 11V517000 26 Oct 2011 | DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA |
| 11V491000 3 Oct 2011 | GENERAL MOTORS LLC |
| 11V486000 27 Sept 2011 | OPEN RANGE R.V. COMPANY |
| 11V454000 1 Sept 2011 | AULICK MANUFACTURING, INC. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2011