The defect
Blue Bird is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2011 All American rear engine school buses manufactured from August 9, 2007, through June 9, 2010, powered by Cummins ISB07 engines. In the affected vehicles, the grid heater power cable may be improperly routed, which could result in contact with the chassis frame rail.
The risk
If the cable contacts the chassis frame rail it could potentially chafe against the frame thereby creating a direct short which could result in a fire.
The remedy
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the buses for proper positioning of the grid heater power cable. Any cables found contacting the chassis frame rail will have the grid heater cable repositioned to prevent further contact. Any damaged cables found will be replaced. The repairs will be made free of charge. The recall began on May 3, 2013. On August 15, 2014, Blue Bird sent out renoticiation letters to owners regarding the recall. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's recall campaign number is R13WD.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING | ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
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 | 2008 | 4 | 32 |
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2009 | 3 | 33 |
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2010 | 0 | 42 |
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2011 | 0 | 35 |
Other electrical system recalls in 2013
76 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the electrical system; Blue Bird Body Company filed 162 campaigns in all.
| 13V640000 20 Dec 2013 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 13V639000 20 Dec 2013 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 13V642000 19 Dec 2013 | Nova Bus |
| 13V635000 18 Dec 2013 | Zero Motorcycles Inc. |
| 13V627000 17 Dec 2013 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 13V589000 22 Nov 2013 | Maserati North America, Inc. |
| 13V570000 15 Nov 2013 | BMW of North America, LLC |
| 13V566000 13 Nov 2013 | General Motors LLC |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013