2003 BLUE BIRD CONVENTIONAL
6 recalls, 3 complaints - 4 TSBs
05V239000 May 20, 2005
OTHER:SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM ASSEMBLY
Defect Description
CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NE... Read more
Consequence
SHOULD THE STOP ARM NOT PERFORM PROPERLY, A CHILD OR PEDESTRIAN MAY BE ENDANGERED BY PASSING VEHICLES SHOULD THE MOTORIST NOT STOP AT THE CORRECT LOCATION.
Remedy
BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE ORIGINAL SWITCH WITH A SWITCH PACK THAT IS NOT SENSITIVE TO EXTREME COLD WEATHER AND WILL INSPECT TO ENSURE THE MICROSWITCH HEATER WIRING IS PROPERLY CONNECTED FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 12, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 4... Read more
05V251000 May 20, 2005
OTHER:SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM ASSEMBLY
Defect Description
CERTAIN BLUE BIRD 2002 THROUGH 2006 MY ALL AMERICAN, CONVENTIONAL, MINIBIRD, MICROBIRD, VISION, AND TC2000 SCHOOL BUSES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN STATES OTHER THAN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MA... Read more
Consequence
SHOULD THE STOP ARM NOT PERFORM PROPERLY, A CHILD OR PEDESTRIAN MAY BE ENDANGERED BY PASSING MOTORISTS SHOULD THE MOTORIST NOT STOP AT THE CORRECT LOCATION.
Remedy
BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ALL ITS CUSTOMERS OF THIS CAMPAIGN. FOR THOSE BUSES OPERATED IN OR NEAR ANY OF THE STATES LISTED ABOVE, BLUE BIRD IS ENCOURAGING THE BUS OWNERS TO OBTAIN THE REPLACEMENT SWITCH. FOR THOSE BUSES OPERATED IN THE WARMER STATES, BLUE BIRD WILL REPLACE THE SWITCH UPON OWNER REQUES... Read more
05V074000 Mar 1, 2005
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
Defect Description
CERTAIN 2002-2006 MY BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES, CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUSES, AND COMMERCIAL SERIES TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 21, 2002, AND FEBRUARY 24, 2005. THESE BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH WEBASTO COOLANT HEATERS, MODEL DBW 2010, ASSEMBLED WITH WEBASTO BURNER TU... Read more
Consequence
SHOULD THE BURNER TUBE FAIL, THE COOLANT HEATER COULD OVERHEAT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy
BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE BURNER TUBES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
05V036000 Feb 3, 2005
TIRES:MARKINGS
Defect Description
CERTAIN MY 2003 THRU 2005 BLUE BIRD MICRO BIRD AND CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUSES. THESE BUSES DO NOT HAVE THE TIRE LOAD RANGE ON BOTH THE TIRE INFORMATION LABEL AND CERTIFICATION DECAL AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PA... Read more
Consequence
OMISSION OF THE TIRE LOAD RANGE MAY LEAD TO THE INSTALLATION OF TIRES WITH LOAD RANGES NOT APPROPRIATE FOR VEHICLE USE. A FAILURE OCCURRING IN TIRES DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE LOAD RANGE MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH CAN OCCUR.
Remedy
BLUE BIRD WILL MAIL TO FINAL STAGE MANUFACTURERS, CERTIFICATION DECALS WITH THE TIRE LOAD RATING INDICATED TO ITS CUSTOMERS. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MAY 6, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
04V426000 Aug 30, 2004
EQUIPMENT ADAPTIVE/MOBILITY
Defect Description
CERTAIN BLUE BIRD 1999-2005 ALL AMERICAN, TC/2000, MICRO BIRD, VISION, CONVENTIONAL, AND COMMERCIAL SERIES SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOC WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS AND MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 17, 1999, AND AUGUST 13, 2004. CERTAIN SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR TIE-DOWN SECUREMENT ASSEMBLIES P/... Read more
Consequence
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.
Remedy
BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN SEPTEMBER 21, 2004. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR BUSES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT AT BLUE BIRD AT 47... Read more
03V364000 Oct 8, 2003
SEATS
Defect Description
ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL SEAT BELTS OR SEAT BELT "READY" SEATS, SOME BELTS WERE INSTALLED WITH ONLY TWO BOLTS RATHER THAN THE REQUIRED THREE (3) BOLTS.
Consequence
THESE SEATS COULD DETACH FROM THE WALL SIDE ATTACHMENT POINTS IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.
Remedy
BLUE BIRD WILL FURNISH TO DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS, PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY TO INSTALL THE MISSING BOLT FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO ON NOVEMBER 3, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FRE... Read more
Complaint Statistics
3 total complaints
3 crashes 9 injuries
Top Reported Components
| Component | Complaints |
|---|---|
| STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS | 1 |
| STRUCTURE:BODY | 1 |
| STRUCTURE | 1 |
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
Mar 22, 2010
Incident date: Jan 31, 2007
THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMPLAINT IS TO CALL ATTENTION TO A DESIGN DEFECT OF THE 2003 BLUE BIRD CONVENTIONAL/CV200 SCHOOL BUS THAT HAS RESULTED IN BOTH MAJOR INJURIES AND DEATH. THE DESIGN DEFECT IS THAT DURING REAR END COLLISIONS, PASSENGER COMPARTMENT INTRUSION IS MORE LIKELY DUE TO THE RELATIVELY HIG... Read more
Crash
3 injured
STRUCTURE:BODY
Mar 22, 2010
Incident date: Jan 31, 2007
THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMPLAINT IS TO CALL ATTENTION TO A DESIGN DEFECT OF THE 2003 BLUE BIRD CONVENTIONAL/CV200 SCHOOL BUS THAT HAS RESULTED IN BOTH MAJOR INJURIES AND DEATH. THE DESIGN DEFECT IS THAT DURING REAR END COLLISIONS, PASSENGER COMPARTMENT INTRUSION IS MORE LIKELY DUE TO THE RELATIVELY HIG... Read more
Crash
3 injured
STRUCTURE
Mar 22, 2010
Incident date: Jan 31, 2007
THE PURPOSE OF THIS COMPLAINT IS TO CALL ATTENTION TO A DESIGN DEFECT OF THE 2003 BLUE BIRD CONVENTIONAL/CV200 SCHOOL BUS THAT HAS RESULTED IN BOTH MAJOR INJURIES AND DEATH. THE DESIGN DEFECT IS THAT DURING REAR END COLLISIONS, PASSENGER COMPARTMENT INTRUSION IS MORE LIKELY DUE TO THE RELATIVELY HIG... Read more
Crash
3 injured
Technical Service Bulletins, 2003 BLUE BIRD CONVENTIONAL
4 manufacturer communications from 4 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.
Most Affected Components
| Component | Bulletins |
|---|---|
| 355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL | 2 |
| 980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER | 2 |
SM1608
Dec 8, 2016
355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
New Blue Bird Support Center - Technical Bus Support: Dealer memo to announce the new on-line Blue Bird Support Center for technical bus support requests.
SM1601
Jan 14, 2016
355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL
Blue Bird Troubleshooting Guides: Blue Bird announcement of the addition of troubleshooting guides for assisting in the service of the Blue Bird products. These troubleshooting guides are available on the Vantage website.
No comms 2022-10
Oct 17, 2022
980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There are no Manufacturer Communications in accordance with 49 CFR 579.5 to report for October 2022 for Blue Bird Body Company.
No comms 2023-12
Jan 1, 2024
980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER
There are no Manufacturer Communications in accordance with 49 CFR 579.5 to report for December 2023 for Blue Bird Body Company.
NHTSA Safety Investigations, BLUE BIRD CONVENTIONAL
Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.
PE07020
Opened: Apr 19, 2007 , Closed: Aug 6, 2007
SEAT TRACK CORROSION
ODI OPENED THIS PE AFTER RECEIVING THREE ALLEGATIONS OF SEAT TRACK CORROSION DISCOVERED BY FLEETS WHILE PERFORMING PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE.SINCE OPENING THIS INVESTIGATION, ODI HAS VISITED THE FLEETS, INSPECTED SUBJECT BUSES, INTERVIEWED SHOP PERSONNEL, REVIEWED BLUE BIRD'S RESPONSE TO OUR INFORMAT... Read more
BLUE BIRD CONVENTIONAL - All Years Overview
Complete safety history for the BLUE BIRD CONVENTIONAL across all model years (1985, 2014).
119
Total Recalls
20
Total Complaints
1
Investigations
6
Reported Crashes
2
Reported Fires
3
Reported Deaths
BLUE BIRD CONVENTIONAL - Year by Year
Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.
| Year | Recalls | Complaints | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 0 | 2 | View |
| 2017 | 0 | 3 | View |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 2011 | 1 | 2 | View |
| 2010 | 3 | 1 | View |
| 2009 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 2008 | 7 | 2 | View |
| 2007 | 6 | 0 | View |
| 2006 | 8 | 0 | View |
| 2005 | 5 | 0 | View |
| 2004 | 7 | 0 | View |
| 2003 (current) | 6 | 3 | |
| 2002 | 7 | 0 | View |
| 2001 | 6 | 0 | View |
| 2000 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 1999 | 4 | 0 | View |
| 1998 | 4 | 0 | View |
| 1997 | 4 | 0 | View |
| 1996 | 5 | 0 | View |
| 1995 | 4 | 0 | View |
| 1994 | 4 | 0 | View |
| 1993 | 5 | 0 | View |
| 1992 | 5 | 0 | View |
| 1991 | 6 | 7 | View |
| 1990 | 5 | 0 | View |
| 1989 | 4 | 0 | View |
| 1988 | 3 | 0 | View |
| 1987 | 2 | 0 | View |
| 1986 | 1 | 0 | View |
| 1985 | 1 | 0 | View |