The defect
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES MOUNTED ON CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTION FOR THREE BATTERIES. THE BATTERY CABLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ROUTED PROPERLY ALLOWING THE CABLE TO BE CHAFED OR PINCHED.
The risk
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE POSITIVE CABLE TO SHORT OUT CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.
The remedy
DEALERS WILL PLUG THE HOLE IN THE BACK OF THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT THAT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE BATTERY HOLD DOWN CLAMP. A NEW HOLE WILL BE ADDED DIRECTLY BELOW THE REARMOST BATTERY CABLE HOLE AND THE POSITIVE CABLE WILL BE RE-ROUTED THROUGH THE NEW HOLE.
NHTSA's own wording · initiated by ODI
Vehicles covered
| Model | Model years |
|---|---|
| Blue Bird Conventional | 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 |
Components: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY:CABLES
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 Conventional | 1996 | 0 | 5 |
| Blue Bird Conventional | 1997 | 0 | 4 |
| Blue Bird Conventional | 1998 | 0 | 4 |
| Blue Bird Conventional | 1999 | 0 | 4 |
Other electrical system recalls in 1999
24 of the 392 recall campaigns reported to NHTSA in 1999 concerned the electrical system; BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY filed 251 campaigns in all.
| 99V333002 23 Nov 1999 | MITSUBISHI CARIBBEAN |
| 99V333001 23 Nov 1999 | MITSUBISHI AMERICA |
| 99V329000 22 Nov 1999 | OVERLAND MOTOR COACH |
| 99V325000 19 Nov 1999 | KIA MOTORS AMERICA, INC. |
| 99V289000 26 Oct 1999 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 99V282000 19 Oct 1999 | AMERICAN HONDA MOTOR CO. |
| 99V234000 23 Aug 1999 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY |
| 99V181002 27 Jul 1999 | FREIGHTLINER CORPORATION |
NHTSA recalls (public domain) · all recalls of 1999