2006 Blue Bird Express 4500 recalls and problems

The 2006 Blue Bird Express 4500 has 3 recalls and 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.

How the 2006 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

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.

Steering

Jun 10, 2008 · NHTSA campaign 08V259000 · 33 vehicles

Problem: Blue Bird is recalling 33 my 2006-2007 express 4500 motor coaches equipped with mac tie rod assemblies that did not meet design specification. As a result, the left and/or right tie rod assembly May fracture at high mileage.

Original NHTSA wording

BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 33 MY 2006-2007 EXPRESS 4500 MOTOR COACHES EQUIPPED WITH MAC TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES THAT DID NOT MEET DESIGN SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE LEFT AND/OR RIGHT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY MAY FRACTURE AT HIGH MILEAGE.

Risk: A fracture tie rod May separate without prior warning causing unexpected loss of vehicle steering. In some maneuvers this could cause a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

A FRACTURE TIE ROD MAY SEPARATE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAUSING UNEXPECTED LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING. IN SOME MANEUVERS THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will replace the left and right hand tie rod assemblies with a redesigned tie rod assembly free of charge. The recall began on July 11, 2008. Owners May contact Blue Bird at 478-822-2242.

Blue Bird recall no. R08nd.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.

Steering

Nov 21, 2007 · NHTSA campaign 07V540000 · 12 vehicles

Problem: On certain motor coaches, the castle nuts on the tie rod ends and relay rod studs in the independent suspension assemblies are loose and/or not tightened to specifications. Low and/or no torque on a nut can result in excessive slack in the steering system, thereby allowing the tapered joint to move and subsequently shear the cotter pin.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN MOTOR COACHES, THE CASTLE NUTS ON THE TIE ROD ENDS AND RELAY ROD STUDS IN THE INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES ARE LOOSE AND/OR NOT TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS. LOW AND/OR NO TORQUE ON A NUT CAN RESULT IN EXCESSIVE SLACK IN THE STEERING SYSTEM, THEREBY ALLOWING THE TAPERED JOINT TO MOVE AND SUBSEQUENTLY SHEAR THE COTTER PIN.

Risk: This condition can result in the steering link to become disconnected and cause a loss of steering control which could result in a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE STEERING LINK TO BECOME DISCONNECTED AND CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Blue Bird is working with arvin-meritor to repair these coaches (please see 07E094). The recall began on November 19, 2007. Owners May contact Blue Bird at 1-478-822-2242.

Blue Bird recall no. R07mp.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.

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

2006 vs. other Blue Bird Express 4500 years

Owner complaints by model year; the darker bar is the 2006. Click a bar to switch year.

Questions

Does the 2006 Blue Bird Express 4500 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns covering the 2006 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 2006 Blue Bird Express 4500?

Few complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2006 Blue Bird Express 4500.