STRUCTURE:BODY
CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH." ONE OR MORE OF THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE DRIVER'S PLATFORM TO THE FLOOR STRUCTURE WAS OMITTED.
Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSPECT AND REPAIR THE AFFECTED UNITS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
8,088 vehicles affected
FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY:PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS ENGINES (CNG). THE ORIGINAL PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES MAY VENT UNEXPECTEDLY.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES.
134 vehicles affected
STRUCTURE:BODY
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THESE BUSES FAIL TO MEET THE 60 PERCENT JOINT STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH."
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE CONTACTED AND ADVISED TO INSPECT EACH ROOF JOINT. OWNERS WILL INSTALL REPAIR RIVETS IN EACH JOINT FOUND TO HAVE INSUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF RIVETS IN EACH EXAMINED 8 INCH SECTION.
25,839 vehicles affected
SEATS
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THE WALL SIDE ATTACHING BOLTS FOR SOME OF THE PASSENGER SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE SEAT LEDGE AND IN THE WRONG ATTACHING HOLE RESULTING IN WEAKENING OF THE SEAT LEDGE AT THE ATTACHMENT POINTS.
Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL FURNISH TO DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS, PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT ATTACHMENT AT THE WALL SIDE.
41,260 vehicles affected
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:STORAGE:TANK ASSEMBLY
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: FRONT AND REAR ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH 60 GALLON SIDE MOUNTED FUEL TANK BARRIERS. THESE BUSES DO NOT COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."
Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL SHIP INSTRUCTIONS AND MODIFICATION KITS TO THE OWNERS OF THESE BUSES.
16,338 vehicles affected
SEATS
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BOSTROM DRIVER'S SEAT MODEL F222 OR BOSTRUM "ROUTEMASTER" SEAT. BLUE BIRD OPTION 2821 OR 2824. THE SEAT PEDESTALS ARE FATIGUE CRACKING ADJACENT TO THE WELD WHICH SECURES THE PEDESTAL'S UPPER PLATE TO THE UPPER, TELESCOPING PORTION OF THE ADJUSTABLE COLUMN SUPPORT.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPAIR THESE PEDESTALS WITH A NEWLY DESIGNED PEDESTAL BRACKET KIT.
11,371 vehicles affected
STRUCTURE:BODY
PASSENGER'S CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE FORWARD HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE DIRECTED TO REMOVE ALL FORWARD HANDRAILS. PROVISIONS WILL BE MADE FOR THOSE OWNERS OPERATING IN STATES WHICH MANDATE A FORWARD HANDRAIL THAT A REPLACEMENT HANDRAIL WILL BE PROVIDED.
18,000 vehicles affected
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:DRUM:CHAMBER
AIR SUSPENSION TORQUE ARM CAN COME IN CONTACT WITH THE AIR BRAKE CHAMBER MOUNTING BRACKET RESULTING IN BROKEN S-CAM MOUNTING BRACKET.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL MODIFY VEHICLES TO INCORPORATE AN AXLE SEAT SPACER AND REPLACE THE CAM SHAFT AND CAM SHAFT BRACKET WITH A LONGER CAM SHAFT AND CAM SHAFT BRACKET ON BOTH RIGHT AND LEFT REAR BRAKE ASSEMBLIES TO PROVIDE SUFFICIENT CLEARANCE.
108 vehicles affected
STRUCTURE:BODY
THE FLOOR LINE HANDRAIL BRACKET CAN EXPAND DURING USE AND CREATE AN OPENING WHICH COULD ENTRAP COAT STRINGS, ETC. AND OTHER ARTICLES OF CLOTHING.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLAT SPLIT FLOOR LINE BRACKET WITH A ROUND TUBULAR BRACKET.
2,557 vehicles affected
STRUCTURE:FRAME AND MEMBERS
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.
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.
416 vehicles affected
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
AIR SYSTEM BLOCKAGE IN THE AIR DRYER OCCURS DEGRADING THE MOISTURE REMOVING CAPABILITIES OF THE DRYER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN A COLD ENVIRONMENT AND MOISTURE ACCUMULATES AND FREEZES IN THE AIR DRYER OR IN THE LINE BETWEEN THE DRYER AND THE AIR SYSTEM RESERVOIR. THE AIR DRYER CAN BECOME OVERPRESSURIZED CAUSING THE AIR DRYER CARTRIDGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE MOUNTING BASE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL EQUIP AIR SYSTEMS WITH A PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE TO BE LOCATED BETWEEN THE COMPRESSOR AND THE AIR DRYER. THIS PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE IS INTENDED TO VENT IF EXCESSIVE PRESSURE DEVELOPS IN THE AIR DRYER.
4 vehicles affected
STRUCTURE:BODY
PASSENGERS CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SET SCREW TO THE METAL CLAMP WHICH RETAINS THE INTERMEDIATE HANDRAIL. A HIGH IMPACT MOLDED PLASTIC "CLAM SHELL" WILL BE PLACED OVER EACH END OF THE INTERMEDIATE HANDRAIL COMPLETELY COVERING THE CLAMP AND ELIMINATING ALL CATCH-POINTS. THE FLANGE OF THE EXISTING FLOOR LINE BRACKET WILL BE CRIMPED SECURING THE VERTICAL SECTION OF THE PRIMARY TUBLAR HANDRAIL AT THE FLOOR LINE.
27,189 vehicles affected
AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER
THE AISLE SIDE STYROFOAM KNEE PADS ON THE SUBJECT BARRIERS ARE 11" WIDE AND NOT 14.5" AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 222, "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION."
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INCORRECT PAD WITH THE CORRECT 14.5" KNEE PAD.
2,309 vehicles affected
STEERING:LINKAGES
QUENCH CRACKS OCCURRED IN THE PITMAN ARM PINCH BOLT DURING THE BOLT MANUFACTURING PROCESS, CAUSING A WEAKNESS IN THESE BOLTS.
Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL PROVIDE REPLACEMENT BOLTS FOR ALL AFFECTED UNITS.
2,714 vehicles affected
SERVICE BRAKES, AIR:SUPPLY:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
AIR BRAKE SUPPLY LINES ARE REVERSED AT THE BRAKE TREADLE VALVE. THIS CAN CAUSE THE MODULATED SPRING BRAKE FEATURE ON THE REAR AXLE BRAKE TO BE INOPERABLE. IN THE EVENT THE REAR BRAKE SUPPLY RESERVOIR WERE LOST, THIS COULD RESULT IN LOSS OF BRAKES WITHOUT PROPER FUNCTION OF THE MODULATED SPRING BRAKE ACTION OF THE REAR BRAKE AXLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE.
Remedy: VEHICLE OWNERS WILL BE INSTRUCTED TO SWAP SUPPLY LINES AT THE TREADLE VALVE TO OBTAIN THE CORRECT PLUMBING, AND WILL BE REIMBURSED FOR LABOR EXPENSES.
74 vehicles affected
BLUE BIRD HAS NOT SENT THE PARTS YET AND IT HAS BEEN 2 MONTHS. RECALL 96V126.001. PLEASE EXPLAIN THE PROBLEMS. *AK
STEERING LOCKED UP DUE TO HORN RING PEELING/GETTING STUCK IN STEERING COLUMN. *DH
MAIN AIR BRAKE LINE RUBS AGAINST RETAINING BRACKET, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. (1ST VEHICLE ON 601431)*SD
MAIN AIR BRAKE LINE RUBS AGAINST RETAINING BRACKET, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. (2ND VEHICLE ON 505277)*SD
MAIN AIR BRAKE LINE RUBS AGAINST RETAINING BRACKET, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. (4TH VEHICLE ON 601432)*SD
MAIN AIR BRAKE LINE RUGS AGAINST RETAINING BRACKET, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. (5TH VEHICLE ON 601435)*SD
MAIN AIR BRAKE LINE RUBS AGAINST RETAINING BRACKET, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. (6TH VEHICLE ON 601434)*SD
MAIN AIR BRAKE LINE RUBS AGAINST RETAINING BRACKET, CAUSING PREMATURE WEAR. (7TH VEHICLE ON 601437)*SD
THROTTLE CABLE BROKE. *SD