2004 Blue Bird Express 4500 recalls and problems

The 2004 Blue Bird Express 4500 has 4 recalls and 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.

How the 2004 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

4recalls
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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4 recalls

Electrical System

Oct 17, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V480000 · 393 vehicles

Problem: Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2004 Ultra LMB, 2003-2006 Ultra LF and 2004-2007 Express commercial buses equipped with Sure Power-brand battery equalizers containing a particular epoxy sealing, aka 'potting', compound. The specific potting compound used in the subject products for insulation was found to be capable of conducting electricity after being exposed to heat.

Risk: Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire.

Remedy & notes

Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will replace the equalizers, free of charge. The recall began on December 17, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-825-2021. Blue Bird's recall number is R13WN.

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

Service Brakes

Aug 4, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V388000 · 156 vehicles

Problem: Certain motor coaches, motor homes, commuter coaches, and transit buses equipped with arvin-meritor dx 225 air disc brakes, are experiencing excessive smoke in the wheel area due to overheating of the air disc brake pads.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN MOTOR COACHES, MOTOR HOMES, COMMUTER COACHES, AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH ARVIN-MERITOR DX 225 AIR DISC BRAKES, ARE EXPERIENCING EXCESSIVE SMOKE IN THE WHEEL AREA DUE TO OVERHEATING OF THE AIR DISC BRAKE PADS.

Risk: A potential fire in the wheel May occur which May result in property damage or personal injury.

Original NHTSA wording

A POTENTIAL FIRE IN THE WHEEL MAY OCCUR WHICH MAY RESULT IN PROPERTY DAMAGE OR PERSONAL INJURY.

Remedy & notes

Arvin-meritor will inspect the brake assemblies to ensure proper set-up and operation. This recall began August 10, 2004. Owners should contact Blue Bird at 478-822-2242.

Blue Bird recall no. R04hw.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Service Brakes

Jul 19, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V341000 · 48 vehicles

Problem: Certain motor coaches fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 121, "air brake systems." these buses were manufactured without the check valve, which protects the front service brake reservoir.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN MOTOR COACHES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 121, "AIR BRAKE SYSTEMS." THESE BUSES WERE MANUFACTURED WITHOUT THE CHECK VALVE, WHICH PROTECTS THE FRONT SERVICE BRAKE RESERVOIR.

Risk: Loss of air pressure could result in longer stopping distances which could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

LOSS OF AIR PRESSURE COULD RESULT IN LONGER STOPPING DISTANCES WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will add the required check valve to the front air brake service reservoir to insure compliance with FMVSS no. 121. The recall began on July 30, 2004. Owners should contact Blue Bird at 478-822-2242.

Blue Bird recall no. R04hu.customers can also contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-DASH-2-DOT (1-888-327-4236).

Steering

Mar 26, 2004 · NHTSA campaign 04V153000 · 98 vehicles

Problem: On certain motor homes and transit coaches, incorrect torque application could have been applied to the clamp bolts and the drag link.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTOR HOMES AND TRANSIT COACHES, INCORRECT TORQUE APPLICATION COULD HAVE BEEN APPLIED TO THE CLAMP BOLTS AND THE DRAG LINK.

Risk: This could lead to the clamps becoming loose, causing misalignment of the steering axles, which could result in a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS COULD LEAD TO THE CLAMPS BECOMING LOOSE, CAUSING MISALIGNMENT OF THE STEERING AXLES, WHICH COULD RESULT IN A LOSS OF VEHICLE CONTROL, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the clamp bolts and and tighten to the required torque. Owner notification began on April 7, 2004. Owners should contact Blue Bird at 478-822-2242.

Blue Bird recall no. R04hr.customers can 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.

2004 vs. other Blue Bird Express 4500 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2004. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2004 Blue Bird Express 4500 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns covering the 2004 Blue Bird Express 4500, the latest from Oct 17, 2013 (electrical 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 2004 Blue Bird Express 4500?

Few complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2004 Blue Bird Express 4500.