2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series recalls and problems

The 2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series has 3 recalls and 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.

How the 2003 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

3recalls
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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3 recalls

Vehicle Speed Control

Apr 7, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V152000 · 486 vehicles

Problem: Certain 2001 through 2005 all american, commercial series, and q-bus school and transit buses equipped with john deere 8.1 CNG engines. The subject buses equipped with the john deere engines May surge inappropriately due to erractic operation of the air throttle if the engine is taken from full to zero load.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN 2001 THROUGH 2005 ALL AMERICAN, COMMERCIAL SERIES, AND Q-BUS SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH JOHN DEERE 8.1 CNG ENGINES. THE SUBJECT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH THE JOHN DEERE ENGINES MAY SURGE INAPPROPRIATELY DUE TO ERRACTIC OPERATION OF THE AIR THROTTLE IF THE ENGINE IS TAKEN FROM FULL TO ZERO LOAD.

Risk: Unexpected engine surge could result in a vehicle crash, possibly resulting in personal injury.

Original NHTSA wording

UNEXPECTED ENGINE SURGE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy & notes

John deere will notify Blue Bird's customers and repair the engines free of charge. Customers are being instructed to contact john deere at 1-800-JD-ENGINE.

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).

Electrical System

Aug 12, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V217000 · 255 vehicles

Problem: On certain rear engine school and transit buses equipped with cummins isb engines, the wiring harness to the combustion air intake grid heater could chafe against engine components.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN REAR ENGINE SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB ENGINES, THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE COMBUSTION AIR INTAKE GRID HEATER COULD CHAFE AGAINST ENGINE COMPONENTS.

Risk: The harness can wear through causing an electrical short in the grid heater power supply, increasing the risk of a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

THE HARNESS CAN WEAR THROUGH CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE GRID HEATER POWER SUPPLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Owners will be contacted and advised to add a bracket to support the harness away from the engine components. Blue Bird will provide a replacement harness for any harnesses found abraded and will reimburse the customer for the labor required to replace the harness. Owner notification is expected to begin on or about September 29, 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, customers can 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.

2003 vs. other Blue Bird Commercial Series years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2003. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series, the latest from Apr 7, 2005 (vehicle speed control). 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 2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series?

Few complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Blue Bird Commercial Series.