2023 Blue Bird Vision School Bus Recall

On certain school buses, a 12 V power wire could become damaged and short circuit. If this happens, the front and rear warning lights, marker lights, brake lights, reverse lights, and license plate lights may not work.

Brake lights that don't work could cause others not to recognize when the school bus is braking, and could increase the risk of a crash. Warning lights that don't work could increase the risk of injury for passengers. Exterior lights that don't work could make the school bus less visible to others and increase the risk of a crash.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and provide you with instructions for how to install an in-line fuse on the C and D-Zone wire harnesses. Alternatively, you may schedule an appointment to have the repairs performed at a Blue Bird dealership.

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.

Under certain conditions, when the school bus is stationary, a software problem in the system control module could cause it to accelerate unexpectedly. Note: This recall only affects certain electric school buses equipped with a PowerDrive 7000 drivetrain.

A school bus that accelerates on its own could create the risk of a crash.

Cummins will notify owners by mail and advise you to take your school bus to a Cummins authorized service center to update the system control module software.

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 electric school buses, an electrical problem could cause a loss of secondary brake assist. Additionally, a software problem could fail to detect and alert you if there is a loss of secondary brake assist. Note: This recall only affects certain electric school buses equipped with hydraulic brakes.

A loss of secondary brake assist could cause a sudden increase in brake pedal force and lead to an increase in stopping distance. This could increase the risk of a crash.

To reduce the safety risk, Blue Bird advises you to inspect and replace any blown fuses and to tighten any loose electrical connections going to the secondary brake pump. Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and provide you with instructions for how to update the vehicle software and repair the wiring harness. Alternatively, you may schedule an appointment to have the repairs 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 school buses, a software problem could cause a control module to reset. As a result, the warning lights could turn off and the stop sign arm may retract without warning.

Warning lights and a stop sign arm that do not work could increase the risk of injury for passengers.

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

On certain school buses equipped with air brakes, the air pressure gauges and low pressure warnings may not work. As a result, a driver may not get a warning if there is a loss of brake air pressure.

A driver who is unaware of low air pressure in the brake system could have an increased risk of a crash.

Blue Bird will notify owners by mail and instruct you to take your bus to a dealership to update the instrument cluster software.

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 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.