The defect
THESE UNITS ARE EQUIPPED WITH A COUNTER WEIGHT ASSEMBLY MADE UP OF 300 POUNDS OF 1/4" PLATE STEEL WELDED TOGETHER AND BOLTED BETWEEN THE FRAME RAILS IN THE REAR OVERHANG JUST FORWARD OF THE REAR BUMPER. SOME OF THE WELDS HAVE BROKEN DUE TO INSUFFICIENT WELDS, CORROSION, OR ICE EXPANSION.
The risk
THESE PLATES CAN DROP TO THE ROADWAY BECOMING A HAZARD TO FOLLOWING VEHICLES INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR AN ACCIDENT.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MECHANICAL RETAINING DEVICE WHICH CLAMPS THE PLATES TOGETHER AND FASTENED WITH THREADED FASTENERS. BUS OWNERS WILL HAVE THE OPTION OF REPAIRING THEIR OWN VEHICLES.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by MFR
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird Csfe | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
| Blue Bird Stfe | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 |
Components: STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
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 Csfe | 1988 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Csfe | 1989 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Csfe | 1990 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Csfe | 1991 | 0 | 2 |
| Blue Bird Csfe | 1992 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Csfe | 1993 | 0 | 4 |
| Blue Bird Csfe | 1994 | 0 | 4 |
| Blue Bird Csfe | 1995 | 0 | 3 |
| Blue Bird Csfe | 1996 | 0 | 2 |
| Blue Bird Stfe | 1988 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Stfe | 1989 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Stfe | 1990 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Stfe | 1991 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Stfe | 1992 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Stfe | 1993 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Stfe | 1994 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Stfe | 1995 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird Stfe | 1996 | 0 | 1 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1988 | 0 | 11 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1989 | 1 | 14 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1990 | 1 | 13 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1991 | 0 | 12 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1992 | 1 | 14 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1993 | 2 | 14 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1994 | 9 | 14 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1995 | 7 | 18 |
| Blue Bird TC2000 | 1996 | 3 | 13 |
Other structure recalls in 1995
15 of the 260 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1995 concerned the structure; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 95V245000 20 Dec 1995 | FEATHERLITE TRAILERS |
| 95V229000 5 Dec 1995 | GENERAL MOTORS CORP. |
| 95V219000 10 Nov 1995 | WHEELED COACH INDUSTRIES |
| 95V207000 24 Oct 1995 | TRANSIT BUS INTERNATIONAL |
| 95V190000 11 Oct 1995 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 95V187000 2 Oct 1995 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 95V164002 28 Aug 1995 | MAZDA (NORTH AMERICA),INC |
| 95V164001 25 Aug 1995 | FORD MOTOR COMPANY |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1995