Blue Bird Tc2000 1996
Model Tc2000 made in 1996 by Blue Bird got 3 consumer complains there are 14 recalls as well as 2 service bulletins. Consumer complaints with reference, among others things, to electrical system, visibility. Technical service bulletines regarding electrical system, engine and engine cooling. There were some recalls concerningelectrical system, equipment and fuel system, gasoline.
Model 1996
Recalls
| Campaign | Manufacturer | Manufacturing date | Type | # of units affected | Date Owner notified Mfg | Recall Initiated by | Manufacturers of recalled vehicles/products | Report Recieved Date | Record Creation Date | Regulation Part Number | FMVSS Number | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | ||||||||||||||||
| 01V191000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 06/01/1995 to 05/31/2001 | V (Vehicle) | 5631 | 07/30/2001 | MFR | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 06/11/2001 | 06/14/2001 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | This condition can result in power failure and/or risk of fire in the engine compartment. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Blue bird recall no. r01ff.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236). | |||||||||||||||
| EQUIPMENT - OTHER - LABELS | ||||||||||||||||
| 02V185000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 11/30/1995 to 04/23/2002 | V (Vehicle) | 408 | 08/29/2002 | MFR | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 07/15/2002 | 07/23/2002 | 571 | 101 | |||||
| Defect Summary | Certain transit buses fail to comply with requirements of federal motor vehicle standard no. 101, controls and displays. this standard requires specific labeling for engine start and engine stop. the wording of the labels on these vehicles do not meet the requirements of the standard. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | The operator could place the engine switch in a position other than that intended, increasing the risk of a crash. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Owners will be provided with new decals and installation instructions. owner notification began august 29, 2002. owners who do not receive the free label and installation instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236). | |||||||||||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE - STORAGE - TANK ASSEMBLY | ||||||||||||||||
| 97V197000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 01/05/1988 to 04/06/1998 | V (Vehicle) | 16338 | 03/10/1998 | OVSC | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 11/07/1997 | 11/20/1997 | 571 | 301 | |||||
| Defect Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | In the event of a vehicle crash, the fuel tank could be damaged, leaking fuel, possibly resulting in a vehicle fire. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Blue bird will ship instructions and modification kits to the owners of these buses. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notification is expected to begin march 10, 1998.owners who do not receive the free modification kits and instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-912-825-2021.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
| FUEL SYSTEM, OTHER - DELIVERY - HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS | ||||||||||||||||
| 98V110000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 10/09/1996 to 08/21/1997 | V (Vehicle) | 64 | 06/11/1998 | ODI | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 05/21/1998 | 05/27/1998 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | Vehicle description: rear engine school buses equipped with option 04888 dedicated compressed natural gas (cng) fuel package. the 24 long stainless steel braided fuel hoses can leak at the hose end fittings. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | These hoses can fracture allowing cng fuel leakage increasing the risk of a fire. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will replace these hoses with conductive thermoplastic hoses. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notificationbegan june 11, 1998.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 1-912-825-2021.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236). | |||||||||||||||
| POWER TRAIN | ||||||||||||||||
| 96V198000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 05/31/1996 to 07/09/1996 | V (Vehicle) | 5 | 10/10/1996 | MFR | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 10/09/1996 | 11/01/1996 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | Oversized rotors were installed in the powertrain drive motors in these buses. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | When the bus is in service and the oversized rotor inside the electric powertrain motor becomes heated, the rotor expands causing the motor to become sluggish, stall and could seize, failing completely. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Northrup-grumman will perform the modification to these powertrain drive motors. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Vehicle description:electric powered school buses. owners have been notified of this campaign. 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 northrup-grumman at 1-410-993-2699 or blue bird at 1-912-825-9608.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
| SEATS | ||||||||||||||||
| 96V126001 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 09/01/1993 to 04/01/1996 | V (Vehicle) | 11371 | 07/15/1996 | MFR | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 07/11/1996 | 07/25/1996 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | The upper mounting plate and seat upper gradually becomes loose resulting in the upper plate detaching from the supporting column and the seat can fall from its mounting. this can result in personal injury to the driver. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will repair these pedestals with a newly designed pedestal bracket kit. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notification began july 15, 1996.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 1-912-825-9608. also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
| 99V018000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 09/01/1987 to 01/04/1999 | V (Vehicle) | 41260 | 07/29/1999 | OVSC | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 06/15/1999 | 02/01/1999 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | In the event of a frontal crash, the rear attaching bolt of these seats could pull out of the seat ledge increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Blue bird will furnish to distributors and owners, parts and instructions necessary to strengthen the passenger seat attachment at the wall side. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notification began april 28 and july 29, 1999. owners who do not receive the free parts and instructions within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 1-912-825-2021. also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236). | |||||||||||||||
| 96V178010 | from 02/23/1996 to 09/17/1996 | V (Vehicle) | 30 | 05/30/1997 | ODI | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 05/02/1997 | 06/05/1997 | ||||||||
| Defect Summary | Vehicle description: school buses equipped with isringhausen seats in the driver's position. two welds located on the back rest adjustment side of the seat frame did not meet the manufacturer's specifications. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | If these welds were not to specification, back rest loads could cause the welds to fail. the back rest would disengage from the seat frame allowing loss of support to the driver's torso and possibly causing loss of control of the vehicle. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Isringhausen is conducting the owner notification and remedy campaign for this recall. dealers will inspect these seats and replace the seat frame assembly. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notification:owner notification is being conducted by isringhausen and will begin during may 1997.note: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 1-912-825-9608or isringhausen at 616-968-5333, ext. 301. also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - HOSE, PIPING, AND CONNECTIONS | ||||||||||||||||
| 96V180000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 05/13/1996 to 08/27/1996 | V (Vehicle) | 194 | 11/07/1996 | MFR | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 09/23/1996 | 10/01/1996 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | The power steering hose with a crimped end fitting was improperly manufactured. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | The end fitting can blow-off resulting in a loss of power assisted steering causing insufficient steering control which increases the potential for a vehicle accident. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Owners are requested to inspect the power steering hose for the suspect hoses (identifiable by date code) and replace hoses as necessary. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notification:owner notification is expected to begin during october 1996. note:owners who have not received repair instructions within a reasonable time or who would prefer that a dealer inspect these hoses should contact blue bird at 1-912-825-2021.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
| STRUCTURE - BODY | ||||||||||||||||
| 03V363000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 08/31/1990 to 07/12/1999 | V (Vehicle) | 8088 | 11/20/2003 | MFR | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 10/08/2003 | 10/23/2003 | 571 | 221 | |||||
| Defect Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | The rear of the driver's platform may not be properly retained in the event of a crash which could increase the risk of injury or death to passengers. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration | |||||||||||||||
| 95V150000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | V (Vehicle) | 2557 | 09/12/1995 | MFR | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 08/07/1995 | 08/21/1995 | ||||||||
| Defect Summary | The floor line handrail bracket can expand during use and create an opening which could entrap coat strings, etc. and other articles of clothing. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | When a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion,the individual could be dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Dealers will replace the flat split floor line bracket with a round tubular bracket. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | System: equipment; other pieces.vehicle description: forward and rear engine transit and school buses; conventional and wide body chassis.note: owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonabletime, should contact blue bird at 1-912-825-2021. also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
| 00V219000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 11/01/1993 to 12/06/1999 | V (Vehicle) | 25839 | 12/18/2000 | OVSC | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 08/17/2000 | 08/11/2000 | 571 | 221 | |||||
| Defect Summary | Vehicle description: school buses. these buses fail to meet the 60 percent joint strength requirements of fmvss no. 221, school bus body joint strength. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | In the event of a vehicle crash, the roof may not be supported sufficiently, causing personal injury to bus occupants. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Owner notification began december 18, 2000. 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.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236). | |||||||||||||||
| 96V073000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 04/23/1988 to 04/22/1996 | V (Vehicle) | 18000 | 08/21/1996 | ODI | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 05/03/1996 | 05/08/1996 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | Passenger's clothing can unknowingly become caught in the forward handrails at bus doors when exiting the bus. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | When a passenger's clothing becomes caught in the handrail, and the bus driver closes the door and puts the vehicle in motion, the individual is subject to being dragged by the bus. this can result in serious injury or death. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | System: equipment; handrails at bus entryways. vehicle description: school buses equipped with forward handrails. note: owner 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 1-912-825-2021. also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
| STRUCTURE - FRAME AND MEMBERS | ||||||||||||||||
| 95V136000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 01/01/1988 to 06/01/1995 | V (Vehicle) | 416 | 07/19/1995 | MFR | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 07/26/1995 | 07/27/1995 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | These plates can drop to the roadway becoming a hazard to following vehicles increasing the potential for an accident. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | 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. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | System: structure; frame; members and body.vehicle description: forward engine transit buses with 132 wheelbase, bodymodels 2409 or 2504, equipped with air brakes.note: 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 1-912-825-2021. also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-800-424-9393. | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - FUSES AND CIRCUIT BREAKERS | |||||
| S01EP | 03/09/2001 | 620544 | Subject buses may have had concerns regarding fuses blowing frequently in the front heater circuit. *tt | 08/14/2001 | |
| ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING - ENGINE | |||||
| S98BT98 | 02/05/1998 | 600077 | Vehicle experiencing turbo pipe breaking at top flange. *yc | 04/23/1998 | |
Consumer Complaints
| Fail date | miles | occurences | Purchase date |
|---|---|---|---|
| ELECTRICAL SYSTEM - WIRING | |||
| 09/12/1996 | 1 | 12/01/1992 | |
| Electrical failure. | |||
| VISIBILITY - REARVIEW MIRRORS/DEVICES | |||
| 08/12/1996 | 1 | 02/02/1996 | |
| Mirror glass spotted. | |||
| VISIBILITY - WINDSHIELD WIPER/WASHER | |||
| 06/01/1996 | 1 | 07/01/1995 | |
| Windshield wiper regulator arm failed. | |||