1994 Blue Bird All American

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS ENGINES (CNG). THE ORIGINAL PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES MAY VENT UNEXPECTEDLY.

Risk. COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS LEAKAGE IN THE PRESENCE OF AN IGNITION SOURCE COULD RESULT IN A FIRE OR EXPLOSION.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE PRESSURE RELIEF DEVICES.

Defect. VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT AND SCHOOL BUSES. MOVEMENT OF THE HAND THROTTLE CABLE IN THE ACCELERATOR BRACKET RUBS A GROOVE IN THE BRACKET. THE HAND THROTTLE CABLE CAN BECOME WEDGED IN THIS GROOVE PREVENTING THE ACCELERATOR FROM RETURNING TO THE IDLE POSITION.

Risk. THE THROTTLE CABLE WOULD NOT RETURN TO THE IDLE POSITION, INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. OWNERS WILL BE CONTACTED AND ADVISED TO DISCONNECT THE HAND THROTTLE CABLE UNTIL REPLACEMENT PARTS ARE AVAILABLE.

Defect. THESE BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH FMVSS NO. 301, "FUEL SYSTEM INTEGRITY."

Risk. IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, FUEL SPILLAGE CAN OCCUR INCREASING THE RISK OF A VEHICLE FIRE.

Remedy. BLUE BIRD IS DISTRIBUTING MODIFICATION KITS WHICH INCLUDES NEW FASTENERS FOR OWNER OR DEALER INSTALLATION.

Defect. PASSENGER'S CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE FORWARD HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

Risk. 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.

Remedy. 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.

Defect. THE FLOOR LINE HANDRAIL BRACKET CAN EXPAND DURING USE AND CREATE AN OPENING WHICH COULD ENTRAP COAT STRINGS, ETC. AND OTHER ARTICLES OF CLOTHING.

Risk. 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.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE FLAT SPLIT FLOOR LINE BRACKET WITH A ROUND TUBULAR BRACKET.

Defect. AIR SYSTEM BLOCKAGE IN THE AIR DRYER OCCURS DEGRADING THE MOISTURE REMOVING CAPABILITIES OF THE DRYER WHEN THE VEHICLE IS OPERATED IN A COLD ENVIRONMENT AND MOISTURE ACCUMULATES AND FREEZES IN THE AIR DRYER OR IN THE LINE BETWEEN THE DRYER AND THE AIR SYSTEM RESERVOIR. THE AIR DRYER CAN BECOME OVERPRESSURIZED CAUSING THE AIR DRYER CARTRIDGE TO SEPARATE FROM THE MOUNTING BASE.

Risk. IF THE AIR DRYER SEPARATES FROM THE BASE, THE CARTRIDGECAN SEPARATE SUFFICIENTLY ENOUGH TO CAUSE PERSONAL INJURY OR PROPERTY DAMAGE.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL EQUIP AIR SYSTEMS WITH A PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE TO BE LOCATED BETWEEN THE COMPRESSOR AND THE AIR DRYER. THIS PRESSURE RELIEF VALVE IS INTENDED TO VENT IF EXCESSIVE PRESSURE DEVELOPS IN THE AIR DRYER.

Defect. PASSENGERS CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

Risk. 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 INSERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL INSTALL A SET SCREW TO THE METAL CLAMP WHICH RETAINS THE INTERMEDIATE HANDRAIL. A HIGH IMPACT MOLDED PLASTIC "CLAM SHELL" WILL BE PLACED OVER EACH END OF THE INTERMEDIATE HANDRAIL COMPLETELY COVERING THE CLAMP AND ELIMINATING ALL CATCH-POINTS. THE FLANGE OF THE EXISTING FLOOR LINE BRACKET WILL BE CRIMPED SECURING THE VERTICAL SECTION OF THE PRIMARY TUBLAR HANDRAIL AT THE FLOOR LINE.

Defect. THE AISLE SIDE STYROFOAM KNEE PADS ON THE SUBJECT BARRIERS ARE 11" WIDE AND NOT 14.5" AS REQUIRED BY FMVSS NO. 222, "SCHOOL BUS PASSENGER SEATING AND CRASH PROTECTION."

Risk. CONSEQUENCE OF NON-COMPLIANCE: THIS CONDITION COULD INCREASE THE POTENTIAL FOR INJURY IN A VEHICLE ACCIDENT.

Remedy. DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE INCORRECT PAD WITH THE CORRECT 14.5" KNEE PAD.

Defect. QUENCH CRACKS OCCURRED IN THE PITMAN ARM PINCH BOLT DURING THE BOLT MANUFACTURING PROCESS, CAUSING A WEAKNESS IN THESE BOLTS.

Risk. THESE CRACKS CAN CAUSE THE BOLTS TO FRACTURE RESULTING IN A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL AND INCREASING THE POTENTIAL FOR A VEHICLE CRASH.

Remedy. BLUE BIRD WILL PROVIDE REPLACEMENT BOLTS FOR ALL AFFECTED UNITS.