Model year record

2001 BLUE BIRD Commercial Series

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

Recalls

Recall campaignNHTSA 05V152000

Vehicle speed control

Component
Vehicle speed control
Manufacturer
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Vehicles affected
486
Reported to NHTSA
2005-04-07

Defect description

CERTAIN 2001 THROUGH 2005 ALL AMERICAN, COMMERCIAL SERIES, AND Q-BUS SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH JOHN DEERE 8.1 CNG ENGINES. THE SUBJECT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH THE JOHN DEERE ENGINES MAY SURGE INAPPROPRIATELY DUE TO ERRACTIC OPERATION OF THE AIR THROTTLE IF THE ENGINE IS TAKEN FROM FULL TO ZERO LOAD.

Safety risk

UNEXPECTED ENGINE SURGE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY.

Manufacturer remedy

JOHN DEERE WILL NOTIFY BLUE BIRD'S CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE ENGINES FREE OF CHARGE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT JOHN DEERE AT 1-800-JD-ENGINE.

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 04V426000

Equipment adaptive/mobility

Component
Equipment adaptive/mobility
Manufacturer
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Vehicles affected
372
Reported to NHTSA
2004-08-30
Owners notified
2004-09-21

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/N 8625-13. THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE LOAD PAWL NOT TO FULLY SEAT IN THE SPROCKET TEETH.

Safety risk

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.

Manufacturer 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 478-822-2242.

Recall campaignNHTSA 01V338000

Suspension

Component
Suspension
Manufacturer
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Vehicles affected
2,692
Reported to NHTSA
2001-11-02
Owners notified
2002-01-18

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH HENDRICKSON REAR AIR SUSPENSION. INADEQUATE TIGHTENING OF THE 5/8" BOLTS ON THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION HANGER BOLTS AND ON REAR AXLE TORQUE ARM AXLE SEAT STUDS.

Safety risk

INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING PERMITS MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPONENTS THAT COULD RESULT IN BOLTS AND STUDS BREAKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE 5/8" GRADE 8-HANGER BOLTS. IN ADDITION, AXLE SPRING SEAT FASTENERS WILL BE CHECKED FOR PROPER TIGHTNESS AND, IF NEEDED, TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN JANUARY 18, 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 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 00V279004

Service brakes, air: antilock

Component
Service brakes, air: antilock
Manufacturer
BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Vehicles affected
1,269
Reported to NHTSA
2000-12-18
Owners notified
2001-02-12

Defect description

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT AND SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR WABCO PHASE 1, D-VERSION ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), FAIL TO COMPLY TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." AN INTERNAL DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM IN THE ABS MAY NOT DETECT AN EXTREME WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AIR GAP. SUCH A CONDITION COULD POSSIBLY OCCUR DURING (1) ORIGINAL ASSEMBLY OR (2) SUBSEQUENT WHEEL END SERVICE.

Safety risk

FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT TO DETECT AN EXTREME WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AIR GAP CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF ANTILOCK BRAKING FUNCTION ON THE WHEEL(S) WHERE THE AIR GAP EXISTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Manufacturer remedy

THE ABS ECU WILL BE REMOVED AND REPLACED OR THE ECU WILL BE REPROGRAMMED.

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.