The defect
Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2014 and 2015 Vision and All American model school buses manufactured August 23, 2013, through November 6, 2013 and equipped with IMMI-brand L9 driver's seat belts. When the button is pressed to release the seat belt, the latch plate can become partially engaged with the buckle, making the seat belt difficult to unlatch. Thus, this equipment fails to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 209, "Seat Belt Assemblies."
The risk
If the latch plate remains partially engaged after the button is pressed, egress from the vehicle could be hindered which would increase the risk of injury in the event of an emergency.
The remedy
Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the seat belt buckle, and if necessary, replace the seat belt buckle, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's recall number R13WS.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2014, 2015 |
| Blue Bird Vision | 2014, 2015 |
Components: SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE 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 ALL American | 2014 | 0 | 26 |
| Blue Bird ALL American | 2015 | 3 | 27 |
| Blue Bird Vision | 2014 | 0 | 22 |
| Blue Bird Vision | 2015 | 4 | 27 |
Other seat belts recalls in 2013
22 of the 627 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 2013 concerned the seat belts; Blue Bird Body Company filed 162 campaigns in all.
| 13V631000 19 Dec 2013 | Navistar, Inc. |
| 13V630000 19 Dec 2013 | Navistar, Inc. |
| 13V613000 6 Dec 2013 | Spartan Motors, Inc. |
| 13V619000 29 Nov 2013 | Mack Trucks, Inc. |
| 13V618000 29 Nov 2013 | Volvo Trucks North America |
| 13V606000 29 Nov 2013 | Daimler Trucks North America |
| 13V601000 29 Nov 2013 | E-One Incorporated |
| 13V604000 29 Nov 2013 | Daimler Trucks North America |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 2013