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 | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING - COLUMN | ||||||||||||||||
| 06V464000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 10/23/2006 to 11/21/2006 | V (Vehicle) | 227 | 12/11/2006 | MFR | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 12/06/2006 | 12/06/2006 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | Certain 2008 blue bird vision school buses built from october 23 through november 21, 2006. a temporary bolt was used to secure the steering wheel during the manufacturing process. the temporary bolt was to be removed and replaced with a permanent bolt with a lock coating during the final assembly stage. the temporary bolt was not removed and replaced on the subject units, but instead the bolt was reused. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | Reuse of the attaching screw could allow the steering wheel to loosen during operation which could result in a vehicle crash causing injury or death to occupants. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Blue bird will notify owners and repair the buses by replacing the screw with a new attaching screw free of charge. the recall began on december 11, 2006. owners may contact blue bird at 478-822-2242. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Blue bird recall no. r06ld.customers may contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty: 1-800-424-9153); or go to http://www.safercar.gov. | |||||||||||||||
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | ||||||||||||||||
| 09V284000 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | from 03/27/2007 to 06/10/2009 | V (Vehicle) | 7772 | 08/11/2009 | ODI | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 07/23/2009 | 07/23/2009 | |||||||
| Defect Summary | Blue bird is recalling 7,772 model year 2008 through 2010 vision school buses manufactured from march 27, 2007 through june 10, 2009. the lid gasket on the power steering reservoir may deteriorate and contaminate the power steering fluid which could result in a loss of power steering assist. | |||||||||||||||
| Consequence Summary | Loss of power steering assist could result in a vehicle crash. | |||||||||||||||
| Corrective Summary | Blue bird will notify owners and repair the buses free of charge. the safety recall campaign began on august 11, 2009. owners may contact blue bird at 1-478-822-2242. | |||||||||||||||
| Notes | Blue bird recall campaign no. r09ph.owners may also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov . | |||||||||||||||
Bulletins
| Bulletin | Bulletin date | Replacement Bulletin | Item no. | Summary | Added |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST - POWER STEERING FLUID | |||||
| SB-S-07-MU | 12/14/2007 | 10043245 | Blue bird: see document search button for owner letter. on some model year buses, power steering reservoir cap would be leaking steering fluid. to correct condition, new cap was developed. *pe | 03/06/2012 | |
| STEERING - LINKAGES - TIE ROD ASSEMBLY | |||||
| SU-S-0705 | 05/14/2007 | 10043253 | Blue bird: for some model year buses, front axles undergone several changes regarding tie rods not being interchangeable when replacement service is required. *pe | 03/06/2012 | |
| SB-S-07-MC | 08/30/2007 | 10043231 | Blue bird: see document search button for owner letter. tie rods are interchangeable. must be inspected for correct part number and thread engagement in cross tube if replaced. *pe | 03/05/2012 | |
Investigations
| NHTSA ID | Manufacturer | Date open | Date close | Subject | Recall campaign | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| STEERING - HYDRAULIC POWER ASSIST SYSTEM | ||||||
| PE09029 | BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY | 06/05/2009 | 08/28/2009 | SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER ASSIST STEERING | 09V284000 | |
| This investigation was opened after odi received six fleet complaints (19 buses total) alleging repeated issues of the power steering reservoir gasket failing.it was alleged that the degraded gasket fell into the power steering pump, resulting in an increasedsteering effort.odi is aware of two buses that, without warning, lost power assist steering during normal driving operations. reportedly, the power steering gaskets were manufactured with incorrect material substituted by one of the gasket material suppliers. after anevaluation into this issue, blue bird authorized a safety recall. the original power steering lid gasket will be replaced with new gasket material.the action taken by blue bird resolves the issues raised by this investigation.accordingly, this investigation is closed. | ||||||