2000 Blue Bird Commercial Series recalls and problems

The 2000 Blue Bird Commercial Series has 7 recalls and 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.

How the 2000 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

7recalls
0complaints
0crashes
0fires
0injuries
—median miles

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, not verified and not adjusted for sales. Ranking compares this model's own years only.

Does your car have an open recall?
Recalls apply to specific vehicles. Only a VIN lookup on NHTSA's official site shows whether yours is affected and still unrepaired.
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7 recalls

Fuel System

Feb 22, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V062000 · 18,891 vehicles

Problem: Certain 1998 through 2002 Blue Bird all american, TC2000 school and transit buses, and commercial series buses equipped with cummins isb diesel engines. The fuel pump could fail to transfer fuel appropriately creating an engine stall condition.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN 1998 THROUGH 2002 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN, TC2000 SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES, AND COMMERCIAL SERIES BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB DIESEL ENGINES. THE FUEL PUMP COULD FAIL TO TRANSFER FUEL APPROPRIATELY CREATING AN ENGINE STALL CONDITION.

Risk: Should the engine stall while the vehicle is in use, a possible vehicle crash could occur.

Original NHTSA wording

SHOULD THE ENGINE STALL WHILE THE VEHICLE IS IN USE, A POSSIBLE VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy & notes

Customers will be notified by cummins to bring their vehicles to an authorized dealer to have the fuel lift pump replaced free of charge. For more information, customers May contact cummins at 1-800-DIESELS.

Customers May also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's vehicle safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (tty 1-800-424-9153), or go to http://www.safercar.gov.

Equipment

Aug 30, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V426000 · 372 vehicles

Problem: Certain Blue Bird 1999-2005 all american, tc/2000, micro bird, vision, conventional, and commercial series school buses equipped with sure-loc wheelchair securement systems and manufactured between February 17, 1999, and August 13, 2004. Certain sure-lok wheelchair tie-down securement assemblies p/n 8625-13. The sprocket teeth of the retractor assembly May be out of alignment causing the load pawl not to fully seat in the sprocket teeth.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN BLUE BIRD 1999-2005 ALL AMERICAN, TC/2000, MICRO BIRD, VISION, CONVENTIONAL, AND COMMERCIAL SERIES SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH SURE-LOC WHEELCHAIR SECUREMENT SYSTEMS AND MANUFACTURED BETWEEN FEBRUARY 17, 1999, AND AUGUST 13, 2004. CERTAIN SURE-LOK WHEELCHAIR TIE-DOWN SECUREMENT ASSEMBLIES P/N 8625-13. THE SPROCKET TEETH OF THE RETRACTOR ASSEMBLY MAY BE OUT OF ALIGNMENT CAUSING THE LOAD PAWL NOT TO FULLY SEAT IN THE SPROCKET TEETH.

Risk: In the event of a vehicle crash, the wheelchair May not be adequately secured possibly resulting in injuries.

Original NHTSA wording

IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, THE WHEELCHAIR MAY NOT BE ADEQUATELY SECURED POSSIBLY RESULTING IN INJURIES.

Remedy & notes

Blue Bird will notify its customers and replace the defective part free of charge. The recall began September 21, 2004. Owners who take their buses to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact at Blue Bird at 478-822-2242.

Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Suspension

Nov 2, 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V338000 · 2,692 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: School buses equipped with hendrickson rear air suspension. Inadequate tightening of the 5/8" bolts on the rear air suspension hanger bolts and on rear axle torque arm axle seat studs.

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH HENDRICKSON REAR AIR SUSPENSION. INADEQUATE TIGHTENING OF THE 5/8" BOLTS ON THE REAR AIR SUSPENSION HANGER BOLTS AND ON REAR AXLE TORQUE ARM AXLE SEAT STUDS.

Risk: Insufficient tightening permits movement between the components that could result in bolts and studs breaking, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

INSUFFICIENT TIGHTENING PERMITS MOVEMENT BETWEEN THE COMPONENTS THAT COULD RESULT IN BOLTS AND STUDS BREAKING, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the 5/8" grade 8-HANGER bolts. In addition, axle spring seat fasteners will be checked for proper tightness and, if needed, tightened to specifications. Owner notification began January 18, 2002. 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 1-478-822-2242.

Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Electrical System

Jun 11, 2001 · NHTSA campaign 01V191000 · 5,631 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: School and transit buses equipped with rear mounted engines. The 12-VOLT power supply cable(s) May be chaffed by hoses, harnesses, frame components, or clamps.

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH REAR MOUNTED ENGINES. THE 12-VOLT POWER SUPPLY CABLE(S) MAY BE CHAFFED BY HOSES, HARNESSES, FRAME COMPONENTS, OR CLAMPS.

Risk: This condition can result in power failure and/or risk of fire in the engine compartment.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN POWER FAILURE AND/OR RISK OF FIRE IN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will remove and inspect the 12-VOLT power cable(s) from the battery to the starter and, if necessary, will replace the cables. Owner notification began July 30, 2001. 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.

Blue Bird recall no. R01ff.also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Service Brakes

Dec 18, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V279004 · 1,269 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: Transit and school buses equipped with meritor wabco phase 1, d-version antilock brake system (ABS), fail to comply to the requirements of FMVSS no. 105, "hydraulic and electric brake systems." an internal diagnostic system in the ABS May not detect an extreme wheel speed sensor air gap. Such a condition could possibly occur during (1) original assembly or (2) subsequent wheel end service.

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: TRANSIT AND SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH MERITOR WABCO PHASE 1, D-VERSION ANTILOCK BRAKE SYSTEM (ABS), FAIL TO COMPLY TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 105, "HYDRAULIC AND ELECTRIC BRAKE SYSTEMS." AN INTERNAL DIAGNOSTIC SYSTEM IN THE ABS MAY NOT DETECT AN EXTREME WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AIR GAP. SUCH A CONDITION COULD POSSIBLY OCCUR DURING (1) ORIGINAL ASSEMBLY OR (2) SUBSEQUENT WHEEL END SERVICE.

Risk: Failure of the electronic control unit to detect an extreme wheel speed sensor air gap can result in the loss of antilock braking function on the wheel(s) where the air gap exists, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

FAILURE OF THE ELECTRONIC CONTROL UNIT TO DETECT AN EXTREME WHEEL SPEED SENSOR AIR GAP CAN RESULT IN THE LOSS OF ANTILOCK BRAKING FUNCTION ON THE WHEEL(S) WHERE THE AIR GAP EXISTS, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

The ABS ECU will be removed and replaced or the ECU will be reprogrammed.

Owner notification began February 12, 2001. 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 . Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Vehicle Speed Control

Aug 17, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V230001 · 6,914 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: School and transit buses equipped with electronic engines and felsted electronic accelerator pedals. The return springs can break on the accelerator pedals that are equipped with stainless steel or electroplated music wire return springs.

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ELECTRONIC ENGINES AND FELSTED ELECTRONIC ACCELERATOR PEDALS. THE RETURN SPRINGS CAN BREAK ON THE ACCELERATOR PEDALS THAT ARE EQUIPPED WITH STAINLESS STEEL OR ELECTROPLATED MUSIC WIRE RETURN SPRINGS.

Risk: This condition could cause the pedal to go to full throttle if both return springs break, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CONDITION COULD CAUSE THE PEDAL TO GO TO FULL THROTTLE IF BOTH RETURN SPRINGS BREAK, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Replacement accelerator pedals equipped with return springs manufactured of music wire with one additional coil on each spring and with an organic coating, eliminating electroplating will be installed.

Owner notification began August 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).

Visibility

May 5, 2000 · NHTSA campaign 00V130000 · 2,088 vehicles

Problem: Vehicle description: School buses equipped with transit sliding pushout windows. Potential sticking and/or binding of the pushout window inner frame within the outer frame results in opening forces exceeding the requirements of FMVSS no. 217, "bus window retention and release."

Original NHTSA wording

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH TRANSIT SLIDING PUSHOUT WINDOWS. POTENTIAL STICKING AND/OR BINDING OF THE PUSHOUT WINDOW INNER FRAME WITHIN THE OUTER FRAME RESULTS IN OPENING FORCES EXCEEDING THE REQUIREMENTS OF FMVSS NO. 217, "BUS WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE."

Risk: Personal injury could occur in the event of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

PERSONAL INJURY COULD OCCUR IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Owners will be provided with step-by-step procedures for modifying the transit sliding pushout windows to conform the FMVSS 217 requirements.

Owner notification began May 25, 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 1-912-825-2021. Also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

2000 vs. other Blue Bird Commercial Series years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2000. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2000 Blue Bird Commercial Series have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns covering the 2000 Blue Bird Commercial Series, the latest from Feb 22, 2005 (fuel system). A recall applies to specific vehicles: enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see whether yours is affected and still open.

What are the most common problems with the 2000 Blue Bird Commercial Series?

Few complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2000 Blue Bird Commercial Series.