The defect
BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2013 ALL AMERICAN REAR ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES AND ONE AFTERMARKET BRAKE TREADLE VALVE. THE AFFECTED BUSES WERE MANUFACTURED FROM DECEMBER 9, 2011, THROUGH MARCH 9, 2012. THE BRAKE VALVE PLUNGER MAY FRACTURE DURING BRAKE APPLICATION, RESULTING IN REDUCED BRAKE PEDAL ANGLE AND TRAVEL. THIS CONDITION MAY LIMIT THE DRIVERS ABILITY TO DELIVER FULL PRESSURE FROM THE FOOT BRAKE VALVE. THERE IS ALSO A POTENTIAL THAT THE BRAKE PLUNGER COULD BECOME LODGED AND NOT ALLOW RELEASE OF THE SERVICE BRAKES.
The risk
EITHER CONDITION COULD REDUCE BRAKING ABILITY AND/OR LEAD TO LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
The remedy
ALL OF THE AFFECTED BUSES AND THE ONE AFTERMARKET TREADLE VALVE WERE SOLD THROUGH A-Z BUS SALES, A BLUE BIRD BUS DEALER. BLUE BIRD HAS REPORTED THAT ALL THE BUSES HAVE BEEN REPAIRED. THEREFORE, AN OWNER NOTIFICATION NOTICE WILL NOT BE ISSUED FOR THIS CAMPAIGN. 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 | 2013 |
Components: EQUIPMENT
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 | 2013 | 1 | 28 |
Other equipment recalls in 2012
128 of the 583 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2012 concerned the equipment; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 12V599000 21 Dec 2012 | KEYSTONE RV COMPANY |
| 12V601000 21 Dec 2012 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 12V598000 20 Dec 2012 | Jerr-Dan Corporation |
| 12V593000 18 Dec 2012 | Champion Bus, Inc. |
| 12V584000 12 Dec 2012 | Creative Bus Sales, Inc. |
| 12V592000 11 Dec 2012 | TRIUMPH MOTORCYCLES AMERICA LTD |
| 12V580000 10 Dec 2012 | Glaval Bus Division |
| 12V575000 10 Dec 2012 | Winnebago Industries Inc. |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2012