2003 Blue Bird Conventional recalls and problems

The 2003 Blue Bird Conventional has 6 recalls and 1 owner complaint on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is structure.

How the 2003 compares

High

Fewest complaintsMost complaints

High complaint count among 6 Conventional model years — 2nd most.

6recalls

1complaints

1crashes

0fires

3injuries

73,650median 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.

Check your VIN →

6 recalls

Unknown or other

May 20, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V251000 · 3,121 vehicles

Problem: Certain Blue Bird 2002 through 2006 my all american, conventional, minibird, microbird, vision, and TC2000 school buses originally sold in or currently registered in states other than the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. In extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the sign in the open and closed positions May malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN BLUE BIRD 2002 THROUGH 2006 MY ALL AMERICAN, CONVENTIONAL, MINIBIRD, MICROBIRD, VISION, AND TC2000 SCHOOL BUSES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN STATES OTHER THAN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE MICROSWITCHES USED INTERNALLY TO POSITION THE SIGN IN THE OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS MAY MALFUNCTION, CAUSING THE SIGN TO OPEN OR CLOSE IN AN IMPROPER POSITION, OR TO NOT OPEN AT ALL.

Risk: Should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian May be endangered by passing motorists should the motorist not stop at the correct location.

Original NHTSA wording

SHOULD THE STOP ARM NOT PERFORM PROPERLY, A CHILD OR PEDESTRIAN MAY BE ENDANGERED BY PASSING MOTORISTS SHOULD THE MOTORIST NOT STOP AT THE CORRECT LOCATION.

Remedy & notes

Blue Bird will notify all its customers of this campaign. For those buses operated in or near any of the states listed above, Blue Bird is encouraging the bus owners to obtain the replacement switch. For those buses operated in the warmer states, Blue Bird will replace the switch upon owner request. For those customers who request the remedy, Blue Bird will replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected. The safety improvement campaign began on August 12, 2005. Owners May contact Blue Bird at 478-822-2242.

Blue Bird campaign no. R05jw.this action is deemed a safety improvement campaign and is not being conducted under the safety act.customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-327-4236.

Unknown or other

May 20, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V239000 · 8,894 vehicles

Problem: Certain school buses originally sold in or currently registered in the following states: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Tennessee, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming, and the District of Columbia. In extremely cold weather, the microswitches used internally to position the stop arm sign in the open and closed positions May malfunction, causing the sign to open or close in an improper position, or to not open at all.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES ORIGINALLY SOLD IN OR CURRENTLY REGISTERED IN THE FOLLOWING STATES: ALASKA, COLORADO, CONNECTICUT, DELAWARE, IDAHO, ILLINOIS, INDIANA, IOWA, KANSAS, KENTUCKY, MAINE, MARYLAND, MASSACHUSETTS, MICHIGAN, MINNESOTA, MISSOURI, MONTANA, NEBRASKA, NEVADA, NEW HAMPSHIRE, NEW JERSEY, NEW MEXICO, NEW YORK, NORTH DAKOTA, OHIO, OREGON, PENNSYLVANIA, RHODE ISLAND, SOUTH DAKOTA, TENNESSEE, UTAH, VERMONT, VIRGINIA, WASHINGTON, WEST VIRGINIA, WISCONSIN, WYOMING, AND THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. IN EXTREMELY COLD WEATHER, THE MICROSWITCHES USED INTERNALLY TO POSITION THE STOP ARM SIGN IN THE OPEN AND CLOSED POSITIONS MAY MALFUNCTION, CAUSING THE SIGN TO OPEN OR CLOSE IN AN IMPROPER POSITION, OR TO NOT OPEN AT ALL.

Risk: Should the stop arm not perform properly, a child or pedestrian May be endangered by passing vehicles should the motorist not stop at the correct location.

Original NHTSA wording

SHOULD THE STOP ARM NOT PERFORM PROPERLY, A CHILD OR PEDESTRIAN MAY BE ENDANGERED BY PASSING VEHICLES SHOULD THE MOTORIST NOT STOP AT THE CORRECT LOCATION.

Remedy & notes

Blue Bird will notify its customers and replace the original switch with a switch pack that is not sensitive to extreme cold weather and will inspect to ensure the microswitch heater wiring is properly connected free of charge. The recall began on August 12, 2005. Owners May contact Blue Bird at 478-822-2242.

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.

Engine

Mar 1, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V074000 · 416 vehicles

Problem: Certain 2002-2006 my Blue Bird all american school and transit buses, conventional school buses, and commercial series transit buses manufactured between December 21, 2002, and February 24, 2005. These buses are equipped with webasto coolant heaters, model dbw 2010, assembled with webasto burner tubes, p/n 303046/26533A manufactured between November 2002 and February 2005. The stainless steel burner tube is made out of a material that is not to specification and could fail prematurely.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN 2002-2006 MY BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES, CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUSES, AND COMMERCIAL SERIES TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 21, 2002, AND FEBRUARY 24, 2005. THESE BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH WEBASTO COOLANT HEATERS, MODEL DBW 2010, ASSEMBLED WITH WEBASTO BURNER TUBES, P/N 303046/26533A MANUFACTURED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2002 AND FEBRUARY 2005. THE STAINLESS STEEL BURNER TUBE IS MADE OUT OF A MATERIAL THAT IS NOT TO SPECIFICATION AND COULD FAIL PREMATURELY.

Risk: Should the burner tube fail, the coolant heater could overheat, possibly resulting in a fire.

Original NHTSA wording

SHOULD THE BURNER TUBE FAIL, THE COOLANT HEATER COULD OVERHEAT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.

Remedy & notes

Blue Bird will notify its customers and replace the burner tubes free of charge. The recall began on March 31, 2005. Owners May contact Blue Bird at 478-822-2242.

Free of charge.the recall began on March 7, 2005.owners May contact pro air at 574-970-0744.

Tires

Feb 3, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V036000 · 1,300 vehicles

Problem: Certain my 2003 thru 2005 Blue Bird micro bird and conventional school buses. These buses do not have the tire load range on both the tire information label and certification decal as required by federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 120, tire selection and rims for motor vehicles other than passenger cars.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN MY 2003 THRU 2005 BLUE BIRD MICRO BIRD AND CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUSES. THESE BUSES DO NOT HAVE THE TIRE LOAD RANGE ON BOTH THE TIRE INFORMATION LABEL AND CERTIFICATION DECAL AS REQUIRED BY FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 120, TIRE SELECTION AND RIMS FOR MOTOR VEHICLES OTHER THAN PASSENGER CARS.

Risk: Omission of the tire load range May lead to the installation of tires with load ranges not appropriate for vehicle use. A failure occurring in tires due to inappropriate load range May result in loss of control of the vehicle and a crash can occur.

Original NHTSA wording

OMISSION OF THE TIRE LOAD RANGE MAY LEAD TO THE INSTALLATION OF TIRES WITH LOAD RANGES NOT APPROPRIATE FOR VEHICLE USE. A FAILURE OCCURRING IN TIRES DUE TO INAPPROPRIATE LOAD RANGE MAY RESULT IN LOSS OF CONTROL OF THE VEHICLE AND A CRASH CAN OCCUR.

Remedy & notes

Blue Bird will mail to final stage manufacturers, certification decals with the tire load rating indicated to its customers. The recall began on May 6, 2005. Owners May contact Blue Bird at 478-822-2242.

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).

Seats

Oct 8, 2003 · NHTSA campaign 03V364000 · 3,825 vehicles

Problem: On certain school buses equipped with optional seat belts or seat belt "ready" seats, some belts were installed with only two bolts rather than the required three (3) bolts.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL SEAT BELTS OR SEAT BELT "READY" SEATS, SOME BELTS WERE INSTALLED WITH ONLY TWO BOLTS RATHER THAN THE REQUIRED THREE (3) BOLTS.

Risk: These seats could detach from the wall side attachment points in the event of a vehicle crash, increasing the risk of injury to the seat occupant.

Original NHTSA wording

THESE SEATS COULD DETACH FROM THE WALL SIDE ATTACHMENT POINTS IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

Remedy & notes

Blue Bird will furnish to distributors and owners, parts and instructions necessary to install the missing bolt free of charge. Owner notification is expected to on November 3, 2003. 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.

Blue Bird recall no. R03hb.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.

What owners complain about

Structure1

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA; one complaint can name several areas. Not verified by NHTSA.

2003 vs. other Blue Bird Conventional years

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

Questions

Does the 2003 Blue Bird Conventional have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Blue Bird Conventional, the latest from May 20, 2005 (unknown or other). 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 Conventional?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention structure (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.