2016 Blue Bird All American

Routine

Owners filed 1 complaints about this vehicle with federal regulators. It has been recalled 20 times.

Most common 2016 Blue Bird All American problems

ComponentReportsCrashesFiresInjuries
Unknown or Other1
000

20 safety recalls

Part 573 reports
Structure23V778000
Filed Nov 20, 20236,124 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2014-2024 All American school buses equipped with 39" High Back seat restraining barriers. The bolts securing the restraining barriers to the floor may separate when fully loaded. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."

Risk. An unsecured seat restraining barrier may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy. Dealers will install a longer bolt with rectangular washer and nut, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed January 16, 2024. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R23CU-SB. This recall is an expansion of recall number 23V-777.

Seats › Barriers20V125000
Filed Mar 3, 20202,790 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2008-2021 Vision and All American school buses. The seat barrier behind the driver seat with an integrated 3-point seat belt may have been installed incorrectly and may be missing the reinforcing bracket. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 222, "School Bus Passenger Seating and Crash Protection."

Risk. In the event of a crash, the seat barrier may not adequately protect the occupant seated behind the seat barrier separating them from the driver seat with integrated 3-point seat belt, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and properly install the seat barrier including adding reinforcing bracket, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin April 23, 2020. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R20AM-SB.

Service Brakes, Air › Disc19V391000
Filed May 24, 20194,218 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2015-2020 Vision and All American school buses equipped with Bendix ADB22X air brakes. The driver side rear brakes may drag.

Risk. A dragging brake may cause damage to the brake components, which may activate the ABS warning light. The warning light may cause the driver to immediately stop the vehicle and transfer occupants. Additionally, the high temperatures at the wheel end can increase the risk of a fire. Either condition increases the risk of injury.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will install a new caliper with an updated clearance adjustment mechanism, free of charge. Blue Bird issued owners interim notification on July 18, 2019. The recall began August 28, 2019. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R19AA - SB.

Service Brakes, Air › Disc › Caliper19V393000
Filed May 24, 201970 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2016-2020 Vision and 2015-2020 All American non-school buses equipped with ADB22X disc brakes. The driver side rear brakes may drag.

Risk. A dragging brake may cause damage to the brake components, which may activate the ABS warning light. The warning light may cause the driver to immediately stop the vehicle and transfer occupants. Additionally, the high temperatures at the wheel end can increasing the risk of a fire. Either condition increases the risk of injury.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will install a new caliper with an updated clearance adjustment mechanism, free of charge. Blue Bird issued owners interim notification on July 18, 2019. The recall began August 28, 2019. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R19AA - NSB.

Equipment Adaptive/Mobility19V082000
Filed Feb 11, 2019787 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2015-2019 Vision and All American school buses equipped with Ricon S-Series Titanium Wheelchair lifts. The wheelchair lift positioning input cam may fail while the lift is in use, allowing the platform to travel higher than the vehicle's floor height. As such, this vehicle fails to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 403, "Platform Lift Systems."

Risk. If the wheelchair lift platform raises above the height of the vehicle floor, the wheelchair user could fall inwards toward the vehicle, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will replace the wheelchair lift positioning input cam, free of charge. The recall began March 4, 2019. Owners may contact Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R19ZP-SB.

Equipment18V801000
Filed Nov 14, 201886 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2007-2019 Blue Bird All American ambulance buses. The clamps that secure the stacked stretchers may fail from repeated use or from high loads.

Risk. If the clamps fail with patients in the stretchers, it can increase the risk of injury.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will install redesigned clamps, free of charge. The recall began December 12, 2018. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R18ZQ-NSB.

Filed Aug 17, 2017309 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2015-2019 Vision and model year 2016 All American school buses equipped with certain QS11 series convertible school bus seats supplied by CE White/HSM Solutions. The integral D-Ring mounting stud located in the upper area of the seat back frame does not provide an adequate padding surface between the seat occupant and the D-Ring mounting stud.

Risk. In a rear crash event, the occupant's head may contact the D-Ring mounting stud, resulting in a head injury or even death.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will equip the Integra D-Ring mounting studs with the proper padding, free of charge. The recall began on September 15, 2017. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R17ZB-SB.

Filed Mar 23, 201792 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2016 Vision and All American school buses, equipped with certain QS11, QSCR11, QSJ11, and Davenport school bus seats that include three-point lap/shoulder seat belts. These seats may have a loose or missing D-ring mounting nut, allowing the shoulder belt D-ring to detach in a crash.

Risk. A loose or missing shoulder belt D-ring may prevent the seat belt from adequately restraining the seat occupant in the event of a crash, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and personnel from the school bus seat manufacturer will inspect and repair the affected seats, free of charge. The recall began on April 12, 2017. Owners may contact Blue Bird Campaigns Administration at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R17YZ (SB).

Equipment16V405000
Filed Jun 6, 201632 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2015-2017 All American transit buses manufactured from November 13, 2014, through May 4, 2016, and 2016-2017 Vision transit buses manufactured from May 30, 2015, through February 2, 2016, equipped with Ricon S-Series (S2005 and S5510) wheelchair lifts. In the affected vehicles the platform side plate on the wheelchair lifts may crack. Additionally, the lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Risk. If the platform side plates crack or the platform mounting fails from out-of-position bearings, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the vehicle's doors are opened, the platform may fall onto the lift operator, increasing their risk of injury.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and Ricon dealers will inspect the link arms for damage or for displaced bearings. The platform will be inspected for cracks. Any damaged parts will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on June 27, 2016. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 or Ricon Customer Service at 1-800-322-2884. The recall number for Blue Bird is R16YR-NSB.

Filed Mar 25, 201667 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2011-2017 All American school buses manufactured from August 20, 2010, through December 16, 2015. Buses with rear side emergency doors have seats over the wheelhouse area whose rear legs may detach from the floor in a crash, resulting in belted occupants traveling forward. As such, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Risk. If the seat does not allow the occupant to be properly restrained in the event of a crash, they would be at an increased risk of injury.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear leg assembly, free of charge. The recall began on April 19, 2016. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's recall number for this campaign is R16YM-SB.

Other › School Bus Stop Arm Assembly16V006000
Filed Jan 8, 2016112 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 All American school buses manufactured May 18, 2015, to November 9, 2015, and Vision school buses manufactured May 8, 2015, to October 27, 2015, equipped with certain Transpec T6000, T6100, and T7000 series school bus stop arms. The affected stop arms have a reflective decal that may peel loose from the stop arm. As such, these stop arms fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 131, "School Bus Pedestrian Safety Devices."

Risk. Without a reflective decal, the stop arms would have reduced visibility to other drivers, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will replace the stop arm blade assembly, free of charge. The recall began on January 28, 2016. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 or the manufacturer of the stop arms at 1-800-951-7867. Blue Birds number for this recall is R16YK-SB.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine15V294000
Filed May 19, 201534 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2009-2016 All American rear engine non school buses manufactured December 7, 2008, to May 11, 2015, and equipped with certain Cummins Westport ISL G engines. Excessive engine crankcase pressures may cause the 90-degree elbow of the vent tube assembly to detach from the crankcase ventilation breather, possibly allowing engine oil to come into contact with hot surfaces.

Risk. If engine oil comes into contact with a hot surface, there is an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy. Cummins will notify owners on behalf of Blue Bird, and Cummins service centers will administer the repairs which include securing the ends of the 90-degree elbow and reprogramming the electronic control module (ECM) with software that can adjust the engine output under misfire conditions to limit crankcase pressures. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 or Cummins Inc. at 1-800-343-7357. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R15YE-NSB.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Engine15V293000
Filed May 19, 2015840 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2009-2016 All American rear engine school buses manufactured December 7, 2008, to May 11, 2015, and equipped with certain Cummins Westport ISL G engines. Excessive engine crankcase pressures may cause the 90-degree elbow of the vent tube assembly to detach from the crankcase ventilation breather, possibly allowing engine oil to come into contact with hot surfaces.

Risk. If engine oil comes into contact with a hot surface, there is an increased risk of a fire.

Remedy. Cummins will notify owners on behalf of Blue Bird, and Cummins service centers will administer the repairs which include securing the ends of the 90-degree elbow and reprogramming the electronic control module (ECM) with software that can adjust the engine output under misfire conditions to limit crankcase pressures. These repairs will be performed free of charge. The recall began on June 12, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 or Cummins Inc. at 1-800-343-7357. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R15YE-SB.

Filed May 12, 201536 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2016 Vision and All American rear engine school buses manufactured February 11, 2015, to April 2, 2015. The affected vehicles have seat bottoms whose foam core may not meet the flammability requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 302, "Flammability of Interior Materials."

Risk. If the seats are built with this seat bottom foam core, the seats may not resist catching fire in the presence of an ignition source, increasing the risk that a fire may start or spread.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will replace the school bus seat bottoms with foam that is compliant to the safety standard, free of charge. The recall began on June 9, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R15YD-SB.

Seat Belts15V136000
Filed Mar 10, 20151,344 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2013-2016 All American A3FE, A3RE, T3FE, T3RE, and D3RE school buses manufactured June 28, 2012, to September 25, 2014, and 2013-2016 Vision BBCV school buses manufactured June 9, 2012, to September 30, 2014. Incorrect fasteners may have been used to secure the seat gusset reinforcement to the side wall resulting in the seat belts being improperly anchored. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) No. 210, "Seat Belt Assembly Anchorages."

Risk. If the seat belts are improperly anchored, there is an increased risk of occupant injury in the event of a crash.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the the seat gusset reinforcement mounting fasteners, and will install an additional gusset reinforcement bracket, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began on April 2, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Birds number for this recall is R15YC-SB.

Steering15V124000
Filed Mar 3, 2015399 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2016 All American school buses manufactured from September 11, 2014, through January 8, 2015. In the affected vehicles, a clamp on the steering shaft may come in contact with the rubber boot at the floor.

Risk. If the steering shaft clamp comes into contact with the rubber boot, additional effort would be needed to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the rubber boot and install a new steering shaft clamp, free of charge. The recall began on March 26, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird Customer Service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R14XE. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 14V-309.

Steering15V118000
Filed Feb 27, 201540 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain 2016 All American transit buses manufactured from September 15, 2014, through January 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, a clamp on the steering shaft may come in contact with the rubber boot at the floor.

Risk. If the steering shaft clamp comes into contact with the rubber boot, additional effort would be needed to steer the vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will relocate the rubber boot and install a new steering shaft clamp, free of charge. The recall began on March 25, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird Customer Service 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R14XE. Note: This recall is an expansion of recall 14V-306.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System15V060000
Filed Feb 3, 2015474 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 All American rear engine transit buses manufactured June 5, 2010, to January 13, 2015. In the affected transit buses, the exhaust system hangers may fail, possibly causing damage to the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) housings.

Risk. If all the exhaust hangers were to fail, the housings may fall onto the roadway, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will install new bolted hanger assemblies and support cables, free of charge. The recall began on March 5, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R15YB-NSB.

Engine and Engine Cooling › Exhaust System15V059000
Filed Feb 3, 20151,936 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2011-2016 All American rear engine school buses manufactured June 5, 2010, to January 13, 2015. In the affected school buses, the exhaust system hangers may fail, possibly causing damage to the Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) and the Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF) housings.

Risk. If all the exhaust hangers were to fail, the housings may fall onto the roadway, creating a road hazard and increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will install new bolted hanger assemblies and support cables, free of charge. The recall began on March 6, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R15YB-SB.

Parking Brake14V798000
Filed Dec 17, 2014304 vehiclesBlue Bird Body Company

Defect. Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Vision and All American school buses manufactured July 8, 2014, to September 22, 2014. These buses, equipped with hydraulic brakes, may have an incorrectly manufactured parking brake pedal assembly which could separate and bend causing the parking brake not to engage properly.

Risk. If the parking brake does not engage properly, the vehicle may unexpectedly move, increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy. Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the date code on the parking brake pedal assembly and will replace the assembly if it is within that date range, free of charge. The recall began on January 29, 2015. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R14XR.

All 20 campaigns on file, newest first.

What owners reported

Newest filings
Unknown or Other
Filed Apr 7, 201717,000 milesWA

SIDE WINDOW OF SCHOOL BUS BROKE INTO SHARDS WHEN HIT BY A QUARTER THROWN BY A STUDENT. NOTIFIED LOCAL BLUEBIRD REP. 11/29/2017.. ALL THE SIDE WINDOWS WERE REPLACED W/ NEW. ADDITIONAL 3 OTHER BUSES CHANGED AS WELL AS THE TEMPER DATE CODE MATCHED ( 2/15)

All 1 complaints, reproduced as filed.

Across model years

Worst on record: 1992
YearComplaintsRecallsFiresDeathsAssessment
201922600Routine
201801900Routine
201701000Routine
2016 — this page12000Routine
201532700Routine
201402600Routine
201312800Routine
201203000Routine
201103500Routine
201004200Routine
200933300Routine
200843200Routine
200742110Routine
200621500Routine
200511300Routine
2004101500Routine
200321100Routine
200211400Routine
200111400Routine
200001600Routine
199901600Routine
19981900Routine
19970300Routine
19960600Routine
199501100Routine
19940900Routine
19930700Routine
199216900Routine
19910900Routine
19900900Routine

Compare every All American year →

Reading this record

No unusual pattern of severe incidents in the complaint record.

Complaint counts track how many cars were sold and how long they have been on the road as much as they track quality. A common model from 2013 has had a decade to accumulate reports; a rare one from last year has not. The signal worth weighing is in the severity columns, in whether the same component keeps appearing, and in whether the manufacturer eventually opened a recall for it.

Recall repairs are free for as long as the recall stands. Check whether a specific car still has open work at NHTSA's VIN lookup.

Most recent recall on file: Nov 20, 2023. Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation.