2022 Blue Bird Vision School Bus Recall

On certain school buses, a brake line could become damaged by contact with an exhaust hanger cotter pin. This could lead to a brake fluid leak and cause reduced braking.

Reduced braking can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash. Additionally, brake fluid that leaks onto hot exhaust components could create a fire risk.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and provide instructions for replacing the exhaust hanger cotter pin and, if necessary, replacement of the brake line. Alternatively, you may schedule an appointment to have the repairs performed at a Blue Bird dealership.

On certain school buses equipped with a propane (LPG) engine, a connection on the fuel return line could rust. If this happens, fuel could leak. Note: This recall is an expansion of Transport Canada recall no. 2022-433.

A fuel leak can create the risk of a fire.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and provide them with instructions for how to replace the fuel return line. Alternatively, you may schedule an appointment to have the repairs performed at a Blue Bird dealership.

On certain electric school buses, the 12 V power cables may not have been tightened properly. As a result, the cable(s) could loosen and cause a loss of power to the wheels. This could also cause the braking assist, steering assist and/or instrument cluster not to work.

A loss of power to the wheels could increase the risk of a crash. A loss of power brakes can cause an increase in brake pedal force and lead to an increase in stopping distance. A loss of power steering assist can cause a sudden increase in steering effort. An instrument cluster that doesn't work could cause warnings, tell-tales and gauges not to display. These issues could increase the risk of a crash.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and provide you with instructions for how to inspect and, if necessary, tighten the 12 V power cables connections. Alternatively, you may schedule an appointment to have the inspection and repairs performed at a Blue Bird dealership.

Under certain conditions, a software problem could cause the parking brake to apply suddenly while driving. Note: This recall only affects certain electric school buses equipped with the Accelera PowerDrive and the brake interlock feature.

A parking brake that self-applies while driving could increase the risk of a crash.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and provide you with instructions for how to update the vehicle software. Alternatively, you may schedule an appointment to have the software update performed at a Blue Bird dealership.

On certain school buses, the roof panels may not have been attached correctly. As a result, the bus may not meet Canadian regulations for roof panel joint strength, and the panels could separate in a crash.

A roof panel that separates in a crash could create an increased risk of injury.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and provide you with instructions for how to inspect and, if necessary, add rivets to the joints. Alternatively, you may schedule an appointment to have the inspection and repairs performed at a Blue Bird dealership.

On certain electric school buses, the fuel tank for the heater may not have been designed properly. As a result, diesel fuel could leak from the tank.

A fuel leak can create the risk of a fire.

To reduce the safety risk, Blue Bird recommends not to fill the fuel tank beyond 90% until the recall repairs are completed. Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and provide you with instructions for how to remove the return tube on the fuel tank.

On certain school buses, the seats may not have been installed correctly. As a result, the seats could move or detach in a crash. Note: This recall only affects convertible passenger seats.

A seat that moves or detaches could increase the risk of injury in a crash.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and provide you with parts and instructions for how to inspect and install the seats correctly. Alternatively, you may schedule an appointment to have the inspection and repairs performed at a Blue Bird dealership.

On certain electric school buses, a software calibration error could cause the anti-rollback feature to activate. This could happen when the bus is in reverse, pointed downhill, and the driver releases the brakes. As a result, the bus could move backwards uphill faster than a driver expects.

A vehicle that reverses faster than expected could increase the risk of a crash.

Cummins will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your bus to a Cummins authorized service center to update the system control module (SCM) software.

On certain school buses, the transmission shift cable may not be routed correctly. As a result, it could contact and damage the fuel supply line. This could create a fuel leak. Note: This recall only affects school buses equipped with a Ford 7.3 L gasoline engine.

A fuel leak can create the risk of a fire.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and provide you with instructions for inspecting the fuel line and re-routing the transmission shift cable, as required.

On certain school buses equipped with a Ford 6.8 L propane (LPG) engine, the right-hand parking brake lever cable may come in contact with the propane fuel supply line. Over time, this could cause damage to the line and result in a fuel leak.

A fuel leak can create the risk of a fire.

The fuel line should be inspected for signs of contact and wear before using the bus. Blue Bird will notify owners and dealers by mail and provide them with instructions for how to inspect the fuel line for damage, and replace them as necessary. Blue Bird will also provide hardware to secure the fuel lines and parking brake cable.

On certain school buses equipped with a propane (LPG) engine, a connection on the fuel return line could rust. If this happens, fuel could leak.

A fuel leak can create the risk of a fire.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail. The corrective actions for this recall are under development.

On certain Vision Electric school buses, the housing for the electric air compressor isn't properly grounded.

A person that touches an ungrounded air compressor housing could get an electric shock if the compressor is running.

Cummins will notify owners by mail. The corrective actions for this recall are under development.

On certain school buses, the brake light switch could bind and cause the brake lights not to work properly. As a result, the brake lights may not turn on when the brakes are applied, or the brake lights could stay on when the brakes are released. It may also be possible to start the bus and shift the transmission out of the Park position (P) without pressing the brake pedal. If this happens, the vehicle could move suddenly.

A vehicle that moves suddenly could increase the risk of a crash. Brake lights that do not work properly could cause others not to recognize when the vehicle is braking, and could also increase the risk of a crash.

Bendix will notify owners by mail and provide you with instructions and a kit for repairing or replacing the brake light switch, as required.

On certain school buses, a problem in the electrical connector for the stop sign arm may cause it not to work. As a result, the stop arm may not extend to warn other drivers when the bus stops to pick up or drop off passengers.

A stop sign arm that does not work could increase the risk of injury for passengers getting on and off of the bus.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and provide instructions for installing a new wiring pigtail on the stop arm air regulator.

On certain school buses, the fuel supply line may not be routed correctly. As a result, it could be damaged by contact with a nearby bolt head. This could create a fuel leak. Note: This recall only affects school buses equipped with a Ford 7.3 L gas engine and a 378.5 L (100 gallon) fuel tank.

A fuel leak can create the risk of a fire.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and provide you with instructions inspecting fuel line and a repair kit for replacing or re-routing it, as required.

On certain school buses equipped with a 7.3 L gas engine, the brake lines may be missing a securing clamp near the engine. As a result, a brake line could be damaged by contact with the exhaust pipe. This could lead to a brake fluid leak and result in reduced brake performance. Note: A brake fluid leak may cause the low brake pressure warning light to turn on.

Reduced brake performance can cause extended stopping distances and increase the risk of a crash.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and provide instructions for inspecting the brakes lines near the engine. Any missing hardware must be installed according to the recall instructions.

On certain school buses, the camera for the Mobileye collision avoidance system may block the driver's view of the passenger-side cross-view mirror.

A mirror that is blocked could reduce a driver's visibility. This could create a risk of injury.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and advise you to contact a dealer to relocate the camera for the collision avoidance system and update the camera software.

On a small number of school buses, a check valve within the air brake system may not have been assembled correctly. As a result, there could be an air pressure leak if there is a secondary brake circuit failure. This could cause the parking brakes to apply suddenly. Note: This recall only affects school buses built with a Bendix air brake system.

A parking brake that self-applies while driving could increase the risk of a crash.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your bus to a dealer to inspect, and if necessary, replace the SC-3 check valve.

Certain school bus seats may not have the tether anchorage point required for installing a child seat.

A child seat that is not properly installed could create an increased risk of injury in a crash.

The company will notify owners by mail. Owners will be sent the missing anchorage parts and instructions for their installation.