Vehicle speed control: cruise control
- Component
- Vehicle speed control: cruise control
- Manufacturer
- BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
- Vehicles affected
- 319
- Reported to NHTSA
- 2010-07-02
- Owners notified
- 2010-08-05
Defect description
BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2010 AND 2011 D3 ALL AMERICAN NON SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 19, 2009 THROUGH JUNE 15, 2010 AND 2011 MODEL YEAR VISION NON SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM APRIL 9, 2009 THROUGH APRIL 10, 2010. THESE BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A CRUISE CONTROL FEATURE WHICH ONCE ACTIVATED MAY NOT DE-ACTIVATE WHEN THE SERVICE BRAKES ARE APPLIED.
Safety risk
IN THE EVENT THE CRUISE CONTROL FAILS TO DE-ACTIVATE WHEN THE SERVICE BRAKES ARE APPLIED, THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Manufacturer remedy
BLUE BIRD SENT AN INTERIM LETTER TO DEALERS AND OWNERS ON JULY 1, 2010 INSTRUCTING DEALERS TO DISABLE THE CRUISE CONTROL MECHANISM UNTIL A PERMANENT REMEDY IS AVAILABLE. A DECAL WASL PROVIDED TO AFFIX TO THE DASH ADVISING OPERATORS THAT THE CRUISE CONTROL HAS BEEN DISABLED. A PERMANENT REPAIR HAS NOW BEEN ESTABLISHED. DEALERS WILL REPAIR THE BUSES BY INSTALLING A FAILSAFE CURCUIT IN THE CRUISE CONTROL SYSTEM FREE OF CHARGE. ALL OWNERS, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THEY RECEIVED THE INTERIM FIX OR NOT, WILL BE NOTIFIED AND OFFERED THE PERMANENT REMEDY. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON AUGUST 5, 2010. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.