1998 Blue Bird Conventional Recalls

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 00V219000
Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Manufacturer Campaign Number: R00DN
Manufactured Begin Date: November 1st, 1993
Manufactured End Date: December 6th, 1999
Date of Owner Notification: December 18th, 2000

Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THESE BUSES FAIL TO MEET THE 60 PERCENT JOINT STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH."

Consequence Summary:
IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE ROOF MAY NOT BE SUPPORTED SUFFICIENTLY, CAUSING PERSONAL INJURY TO BUS OCCUPANTS.

Corrective Summary:
OWNERS WILL BE CONTACTED AND ADVISED TO INSPECT EACH ROOF JOINT. OWNERS WILL INSTALL REPAIR RIVETS IN EACH JOINT FOUND TO HAVE INSUFFICIENT QUANTITY OF RIVETS IN EACH EXAMINED 8 INCH SECTION.

Recall Notes:
OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN DECEMBER 18, 2000. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-912-822-2242.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 99V031000
Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Manufacturer Campaign Number: R99CL
Manufactured Begin Date: February 5th, 1996
Manufactured End Date: January 18th, 1999
Date of Owner Notification: March 15th, 1999

Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES MOUNTED ON CHASSIS EQUIPPED WITH AN OPTION FOR THREE BATTERIES. THE BATTERY CABLES MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ROUTED PROPERLY ALLOWING THE CABLE TO BE CHAFED OR PINCHED.

Consequence Summary:
THIS CONDITION CAN CAUSE THE POSITIVE CABLE TO SHORT OUT CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR A FIRE.

Corrective Summary:
DEALERS WILL PLUG THE HOLE IN THE BACK OF THE BATTERY COMPARTMENT THAT IS LOCATED DIRECTLY BEHIND THE BATTERY HOLD DOWN CLAMP. A NEW HOLE WILL BE ADDED DIRECTLY BELOW THE REARMOST BATTERY CABLE HOLE AND THE POSITIVE CABLE WILL BE RE-ROUTED THROUGH THE NEW HOLE.

Recall Notes:
OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN MARCH 15, 1999.OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-912-822-2242.ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 99V017000
Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Manufacturer Campaign Number: R99CM
Manufactured Begin Date: June 1st, 1993
Manufactured End Date: January 14th, 1999
Date of Owner Notification: February 16th, 1999

Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES MOUNTED ON NAVISTAR CHASSIS. THE STANDARD CROSS VIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLIES INSTALLED ON THESE BUSES DO NOT CONFORM TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 111, "REARVIEW MIRRORS."

Consequence Summary:
THE SCHOOL BUS DRIVER MAY NOT BE ABLE TO SEE CERTAIN PORTIONS OF THE BUS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH OR PERSONAL INJURY TO PERSONS NEAR THE BUS.

Corrective Summary:
BLUE BIRD WILL FURNISH TO DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS, PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY TO MODIFY THE CROSS VIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLIES.

Recall Notes:
OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN FEBRUARY 16, 1999.OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-912-825-2021. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

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NHTSA Campaign Number: 99V018000
Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY
Manufacturer Campaign Number: R99CN
Manufactured Begin Date: April 2nd, 1997
Manufactured End Date: January 4th, 1999
Date of Owner Notification: July 29th, 1999

Defect Summary:
VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THE WALL SIDE ATTACHING BOLTS FOR SOME OF THE PASSENGER SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE SEAT LEDGE AND IN THE WRONG ATTACHING HOLE RESULTING IN WEAKENING OF THE SEAT LEDGE AT THE ATTACHMENT POINTS.

Consequence Summary:
IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL CRASH, THE REAR ATTACHING BOLT OF THESE SEATS COULD PULL OUT OF THE SEAT LEDGE INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Corrective Summary:
BLUE BIRD WILL FURNISH TO DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS, PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT ATTACHMENT AT THE WALL SIDE.

Recall Notes:
OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN APRIL 28 AND JULY 29, 1999. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-912-825-2021. ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S AUTO SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).