Model year record

1998 BLUE BIRD Commercial Series

7 recall campaigns on file for this model year. No owner complaints on file.

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V062000

Fuel system, diesel

Component
Fuel system, diesel
Manufacturer
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Vehicles affected
18,891
Reported to NHTSA
2005-02-22

Defect description

CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2002 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN, TC2000 SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES, AND COMMERCIAL SERIES BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB DIESEL ENGINES. THE FUEL PUMP COULD FAIL TO TRANSFER FUEL APPROPRIATELY CREATING AN ENGINE STALL CONDITION.

Safety risk

SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE, A POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Manufacturer remedy

CUSTOMERS WILL BE NOTIFIED BY CUMMINS TO BRING THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER TO HAVE THE FUEL LIFT PUMP REPLACED FREE OF CHARGE. FOR MORE INFORMATION, CUSTOMERS MAY CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-DIESELS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 03V085000

Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator

Component
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
Manufacturer
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Vehicles affected
4,302
Reported to NHTSA
2003-03-28

Defect description

ON CERTAIN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB 6 CYLINDER ENGINES, THE LOWER ALTERNATOR SUPPORT BRACE OR MOUNTING HARDWARE CAN LOOSEN OR BREAK WHICH WILL ALLOW THE ALTERNATOR TO DROP ONTO THE ENGINE.

Safety risk

IN THIS EVENT, THE ELECTRICAL WIRING HARNESS MAY BE DAMAGED AND THE POSSIBILITY OF FIRE MAY EXIST.

Manufacturer remedy

CUMMINS WILL NOTIFY CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE UPPER AND LOWER ALTERNATOR SUPPORT BRACKETS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLE TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT CUMMINS AT 1-800-343-7357 OR BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.

Recall campaignNHTSA 02V233000

Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator

Component
Electrical system: alternator/generator/regulator
Manufacturer
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Vehicles affected
318
Reported to NHTSA
2002-09-05
Owners notified
2002-09-30

Defect description

ON CERTAIN FRONT ENGINE SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BLUE BIRD OPTION 40177 CUMMINS ISB ENGINE, THE ALTERNATOR POWER CABLES MAY NOT BE ROUTED PROPERLY FROM THE ALTERNATOR OUTPUT TO THE STARTER MOTOR.

Safety risk

IF THE CABLES ARE NOT ROUTED PROPERLY, THE CABLE INSULATION COULD BE ABRADED BY CONTACT WITH OTHER CHASSIS COMPONENTS RESULTING IN A SHORT TO GROUND.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL ADD A LOOM AND REROUTE THE ELECTRICAL POWER CABLE FROM ALTERNATOR OUTPUT TO STARTING MOTOR. THE ALTERNATOR POWER CABLE WILL BE REPLACED IF ABRASIONS ARE FOUND. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 30, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.

Recall campaignNHTSA 01V191000

Electrical system: wiring

Component
Electrical system: wiring
Manufacturer
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Vehicles affected
5,631
Reported to NHTSA
2001-06-11
Owners notified
2001-07-30

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH REAR MOUNTED ENGINES. THE 12-VOLT POWER SUPPLY CABLE(S) MAY BE CHAFFED BY HOSES, HARNESSES, FRAME COMPONENTS, OR CLAMPS.

Safety risk

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN POWER FAILURE AND/OR RISK OF FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REMOVE AND INSPECT THE 12-VOLT POWER CABLE(S) FROM THE BATTERY TO THE STARTER AND, IF NECESSARY, WILL REPLACE THE CABLES. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JULY 30, 2001. 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 1-912-822-2242.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V162000

Service brakes, air: controls: foot control/valve

Component
Service brakes, air: controls: foot control/valve
Manufacturer
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Vehicles affected
9,687
Reported to NHTSA
2000-06-12
Owners notified
2000-06-14

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX AIR BRAKES. BENDIX CHANGED THE INTERNAL DESIGN OF THE QR1C RELAY VALVE BY ADDING A HOLE IN THE INTERNAL DIAPHRAGM. WHEN THE HOLE IN THE DIAPHRAGM ALIGNS WITH THE HOLE IN THE VALVE BODY, THE BRAKE APPLICATION TIME INCREASES.

Safety risk

UNDER CERTAIN CONDITIONS, SUCH AS PARKED ON AN INCLINE, DRIVER ACTIVATES THE PARKING BRAKE BUT REMOVES FOOT FROM THE THREADLE VALVE, THE BUS COULD ROLL BEFORE THE PARKING BRAKE IS FULLY ENGAGED.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE DIAPHRAGMS WITH HOLES WITH SOLID DIAPHRAGMS FOR THE QR1C VALVES.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V130000

Visibility: windshield

Component
Visibility: windshield
Manufacturer
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Vehicles affected
2,088
Reported to NHTSA
2000-05-05
Owners notified
2000-05-25

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH TRANSIT SLIDING PUSHOUT WINDOWS. POTENTIAL STICKING AND/OR BINDING OF THE PUSHOUT WINDOW INNER FRAME WITHIN THE OUTER FRAME RESULTS IN OPENING FORCES EXCEEDING THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 217, "BUS WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."

Safety risk

PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

OWNERS WILL BE PROVIDED WITH STEP-BY-STEP PROCEDURES FOR MODIFYING THE TRANSIT SLIDING PUSHOUT WINDOWS TO CONFORM THE FMVSS 217 REQUIREMENTS.

Recall campaignNHTSA 00V051000

Service brakes, air: supply: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings

Component
Service brakes, air: supply: hoses, lines/piping, and fittings
Manufacturer
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Vehicles affected
3,113
Reported to NHTSA
2000-02-22
Owners notified
2000-03-08

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH BENDIX ABS ANTI-LOCK BRAKING SYSTEM. THE PRIMARY AND SECONDARY BRAKE TREADLE VALVE AIR LINES WERE INSTALLED INCORRECTLY AT THE BENDIX R12DC RELAY VALVE.

Safety risk

WITH THE BRAKE SYSTEM INSTALLED INCORRECTLY, FUTURE MAINTENANCE MIGHT BE AFFECTED BY THIS INCONSISTENCY, CAUSING THE BRAKES TO BE INSTALLED INCORRECT, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL CORRECT THE AIR LINE PLUMBING AT THE BENDIX R12DC RELAY VALVE.

Owner complaints

A complaint is one person's report to a federal agency. It is not a finding.

No complaints recorded for this model year.

Safety recall repairs are provided free of charge by franchised dealers, regardless of vehicle age or mileage. This page displays aggregated data for the model year. To check recall status for a specific vehicle, search its VIN at nhtsa.gov.