1997 BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE Recalls, Complaints & Safety

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER

Defect Description

CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH NORCOLD REFRIGERATOR COOLING UNITS MODEL NUMBERS 1200LR AND 1200RIM WITH SERIAL NUMBERS BETWEEN 700000 AND 1008700 AND MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 1996 AND FEBRUARY 1999. THESE REFRIGERATORS CAN EXPERIENCE LOW CYCLE FATIGUE FAILURE WHICH CAN LEAD TO THE LIQUID SO... Read more

Consequence

IF A LEAK OCCURS AND THE UNIT IS CONTINUALLY OPERATED, HYDROGEN GAS MAY BE EXPELLED AND CAN BE IGNITED, RESULTING IN A FIRE, POSSIBLY CAUSING SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy

NORCOLD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT COOLING UNIT FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN NOVEMBER 11, 2002. 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 NORC... Read more

173 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

TRAILER HITCHES

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOME COACHES. THE TRAILER HITCH MAY BE INADEQUATELY WELDED TO THE CHASSIS FRAME.

Consequence

PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE COULD OCCUR IN THE EVENT THE TRAILER HITCH SEPARATES FROM THE CHASSIS FRAME WHILE TOWING A TRAILER OR OTHER VEHICLE.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL INSPECT THE WELDS AND, IF NECESSARY, REWELD THE TRAILER HITCH PROPERLY.

195 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

SUSPENSION

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH RIDEWELL TAG AXLES. SOME OF THE RIDEWELL TAG AXLE AND SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES HAVE THE BRAKE S-CAMS INCORRECTLY INSTALLED.

Consequence

THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE STOPPING DISTANCE OF THE VEHICLE, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS FOR INSPECTING THE BRAKE S-CAM AND IF FOUND INCORRECT, INSTRUCTIONS FOR CORRECTION OF THE S-CAM INSTALLATION.

204 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

EQUIPMENT:RECREATIONAL VEHICLE/TRAILER:LPG SYSTEMS:FURNACE

Defect Description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: MOTOR HOMES EQUIPPED WITH AQUA-HOT HEATING SYSTEMS, MODEL 431-3 ZONE WITH ENGINE LOOP. FIBERGLASS INSULATING MATERIAL LOCATED UNDER THE BURNER HEAD ON THE FLOOR OF THE HEATER ENCLOSURE, CAN BECOME SOAKED WITH FLUIDS (ETHYLENE GLYCOL AND/OR DIESEL FUEL).

Consequence

IF AN ELECTRICAL SHORT OCCURS, A FIRE COULD RESULT.

Remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE THE INSULATION FROM BENEATH THE DIESEL HEATING UNIT AS WELL AS FROM BEHIND THE CONTROL THERMOSTAT AND AIR-CONDITIONING HEATING ELEMENT ACCESS COVERS.

379 vehicles affected

Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY

No complaints found for this vehicle.

Technical Service Bulletins, 1997 BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE

4 manufacturer communications from 4 unique bulletins. TSBs describe known problems and recommended fixes from the manufacturer.

Most Affected Components

Component	Bulletins
980000 UNKNOWN OR OTHER	2
160000 STRUCTURE	1
355200 EQUIPMENT:OTHER:OWNERS/SERVICE/OTHER MANUAL	1

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.

160000 STRUCTURE

SOME COACHES MAY HAVE CONCERNS REGARDING THE CATCHES FOR THE UNDERSIDE LUGGAGE COMPARTMENT DOOR. *TT

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.

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 WANDERLODGE

Investigations opened by NHTSA into potential safety defects. These are separate from recalls and may or may not result in a recall.

PE, Closed , Model Year: 2005

Front Tire Overload

As detailed in the opening resume for this investigation dated November 16, 2015, Blue Bird Corporation (BBC) conducted recall 07V-586 with two subsequent amendments to address overloaded front axles and tires on the subject vehicles.Following the remedy installations, NHTSA received nine petitions ... and seven consumer complaints (many from the same owners who had filed petitions) alleging the remedial actions taken by BBC were inadequate.At the time, NHTSA was aware of two consumer complaints and three crashes of vehicles that received the 07V-586 recall remedy.One of the complaints was similar to the petitions in that it focused on utility loss and not safety issues.The second complaint (received May 2014) described a crash that occurred in May 2013 that was also identified in media reports. The second and third crashes occurred in August 2013 and January 2015. All three crashes allegedly resulted from failure of one of the front tires.During this investigation, NHTSA requested information from BBC including details about the three referenced crashes and if they were aware of any additional failures.BBC responded that they were not aware of any other failures and had only received crash information on one of the incidents from sources other than NHTSA.In order to understand why the tires failed prior to or during each of the three crashes, NHTSA attempted to collect as much information about each incident as possible.This included insurance documents, photographs, police accident reports, vehicle weights, maintenance history, and the failed tires.In the case of two of the crashes, not enough information could be obtained to determine the exact cause of the tire failure and crash.In the case of the third crash, the tire was collected and analyzed.This analysis found that the tire failed as a result of impact damage and not overloading.In October 2015, BBC initiated a customer service campaign (S15YF) where owners would be notified that BBC would replace the front wheels and tires on the subject vehicles.This action was taken to address owner concerns that the ride comfort in the vehicle was bad and that tire pressure was difficult to maintain at the required 130psi.The new wheels and tires installed by BBC increased the load capacity of the tire, allowing owners to carry the maximum load of the coach at a lower tire pressure.At the time of the closing of this investigation, NHTSA does not have the necessary evidence to establish the existence of an unreasonable risk to motor vehicle safety in the subject vehicles.NHTSA is not aware of any front axle failures in the subject vehicles for any reason. The single tire failure crash where sufficient evidence had been preserved resulted from the vehicle striking an object damaging the tire.The action taken by BBC to increase the load capacity of the tires on the subject vehicles addresses the safety concerns prompting this investigation.This investigation is closed.The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that no safety-related defect exists.The agency may take further action if warranted by the circumstances.Read more

DP, Closed , Model Year: 2005

Alleged inadequate recall remedy 07V-586

On December 11, 2007, Blue Bird Corporation (BBC) submitted an uninfluenced recall 07V-586 to the agency.This recall described a defect on fifty eight 2005?2007 Model Year (MY) Wanderlodge Recreational Vehicles (RV) where the curb weight of the front axle could exceed the axle?s 16,000 pound rating.... Read more

BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE - All Years Overview

Complete safety history for the BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE across all model years (1966, 2005).

76 Total Recalls

7 Total Complaints

2 Investigations

0 Reported Crashes

0 Reported Fires

0 Reported Deaths

BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE - Year by Year

Compare recalls and complaints across model years. Click any year to see full details.

Year	Recalls	Complaints
2005	1	0	View
2004	1	0	View
2003	1	0	View
2002	2	1	View
2001	3	0	View
2000	5	0	View
1999	9	0	View
1998	5	0	View
1997 (current)	4	0
1996	2	0	View
1995	1	1	View
1994	1	0	View
1993	1	0	View
1991	2	0	View
1990	2	0	View
1989	2	0	View
1988	4	0	View
1987	3	1	View
1986	3	0	View
1985	3	0	View
1984	2	0	View
1983	1	0	View
1982	2	0	View
1981	1	0	View
1973	1	0	View
1972	3	0	View
1971	2	0	View
1970	2	0	View
1969	2	0	View
1968	2	0	View
1967	2	0	View
1966	1	0	View

Other BLUE BIRD Models

Model	Recalls	Complaints
ALL AMERICAN	720	222	View
VISION	537	24	View
TC2000	214	39	View
VISION SCHOOL BUS	196	4	View
ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL BUS	148	9	View
CONVENTIONAL	125	20	View
MICRO BIRD	120	0	View
VISION TRANSIT BUS	73	0	View

Vehicle Safety

Consumer Safety

Infrastructure

Public Health

1997 BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE

Technical Service Bulletins, 1997 BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE

Most Affected Components

NHTSA Safety Investigations, BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE

BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE - All Years Overview

BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE - Year by Year

Other BLUE BIRD Models