2008 Blue Bird Micro Bird recalls and problems

Problem: Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 All American and Vision and 2007-2011 Micro Bird transit buses equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured January 1, 2006, to August 25, 2014 by the Ricon Corporation. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Problem: Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 All American, Vision, 2007-2011 Micro Bird, and 2007-2008 Conventional school buses, equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured January 1, 2006, to August 25, 2014 by the Ricon Corporation. The affected lifts are equipped with folding link arms that may have pivot holes that are too big, allowing the bearings to move out of position.

Problem: Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 All American, 2007-2010 Micro Bird, and 2007-2014 Vision non-school buses equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

Problem: Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 All American and Vision, 2007-2011 Micro Bird, and 2007-2008 Conventional school buses equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

Problem: Blue Bird has notified NHTSA about a defect in certain model year 2008 through 2010 all american, conventional, and micro bird transi buses manufactured from December 16, 2007 through December 21, 2009 equipped with ricon model s or k series public use wheelchair lifts. The restraint belt on these lifts was designed to prevent the lift from moving, unless the tongue of the belt is fully engaged and latched in the buckle. Ricon has discovered, however, that it is possible for the operator to insert the belt tongue into the buckle without fully engaging the latching mechanism. In this case, the restraint belt would appear to be latched, and the operator could run the lift. If the restraint belt tongue is not fully engaged into the restraint belt buckle, and latched, the lift May operate with an occupant on the platform.

Problem: Blue Bird has notified NHTSA about a defect in certain model year 2008 through 2011 all american, conventional, and micro bird school buses manufactured from December 13, 2007 through January 18, 2010 equipped with ricon model s or k series public use wheelchair lifts. The restraint belt on these lifts was designed to prevent the lift from moving, unless the tongue of the belt is fully engaged and latched in the buckle. Ricon has discovered, however, that it is possible for the operator to insert the belt tongue into the buckle without fully engaging the latching mechanism. In this case, the restraint belt would appear to be latched, and the operator could run the lift. If the restraint belt tongue is not fully engaged into the restraint belt buckle, and latched, the lift May operate with an occupant on the platform.

Problem: Blue Bird is recalling certain model year 2008 through 2010 micro bird school buses manufactured from August 28, 2007 through October 29, 2009. An incorrect number of rivets May have been installed in the front roof cap that attaches to the front roof sheet. These buses fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 221, "school bus body joint strength."

Problem: Certain model year 2006 through 2010 Blue Bird micro bird single rear wheel model school buses manufactured from August 31, 2005 through September 27, 2009, fail to conform to federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 110, "tire selection and rims." if the vehicle is not equipped with a spare tire, then the tire and loading placard should indicate "none" under the size and recommended tire inflation pressure. The placard listed inflation pressure for a spare tire that was the same as the front tire inflation pressure.

Problem: Blue Bird is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2009 all american, vision, and micro bird school buses manufactured between April 18, 2008 and February 11, 2009, equipped with specialty manufacturing, INC. (smi) 000290 LED light kits. A change to the wire used in the LED light kits May reduce the effective life of the lights used on the stop arms. The lights May stop functioning without warning.

Problem: Blue Bird is recalling certain model year 2004 through 2010 all american, vision, micro bird, and conventional school buses manufactured between January 30, 2003 and May 7, 2009. Incorrect offset leg barrier pads or 2/3 seat back pads May have been installed. Buses with incorrect pads installed fail to conform to the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 222, "school bus passenger seating and crash protection."

Problem: Blue Bird is recalling 69 model year 2008 through 2010 micro bird and vision school buses manufactured from September 29, 2007 through May 2, 2009, equipped with optional 34 inch offset barrier. The offset leg of the barrier frame May have been located incorrectly and incorrect padding May have been installed on the 34 inch offset barriers which fails to comply with the leg protection zone requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 222, "school bus passenger seating and crash protection."

Problem: Blue Bird is recalling 2,503 my 2006-2008 all american, conventional, and micro bird school and transit buses equipped with ricon platform style wheelchair lifts. These lifts fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 403, "platform lift systems for motor vehicles." the anti-stow interlock May not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user. The pressure sensing switch that detects the presence of weight on the platform was not adjusted to the necessary sensitivity level. The lift could stow even though someone or something is still on the lift.

Problem: Blue Bird is recalling 2,129 my 2006-2008 all american, conventional, and micro bird school and transit buses manufactured between May 3, 2005 and February 15, 2008, equipped with ricon model 1200, 2000, and 5500 platform style wheel chair lifts. These buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 404, "platform lift installations in motor vehicles." the threshold warning system May not detect the presence of a wheelchair or mobility aid user in a certain spot within the defined threshold area.

Problem: Blue Bird is recalling 45 my 2008-2009 micro-bird school buses manufactured from October 1, 2007 through January 28, 2008, mounted on general motors chassis with option 3016-05 or 30117-05 LED rear turn signals. These buses fail to comply with the flash rate requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 108, "lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment." the subject lights operate at approximately 180 flashes per minute and the standard requirement is 60-120 flashes per minute.

Risk: This standard specifies requirements for required original and replacement lamps, reflective devices, and associated equipment and their installation. The purpose is to reduce traffic crashes, deaths and injuries resulting from crashes by providing adequate illumination of the roadway, and enhancing the conspicuity of motor vehicles on the public roads so that their presence is perceived and their signals understood, both in daylight and in darkness or other conditions of reduced visibility.

Risk: This standard establishes requirements for the retention of windows other than windshields in buses, and establishes operating forces, opening dimensions, and markings for bus emergency exits. The purpose o f this standard is to minimize the likelihood of occupants being thrown from the bus and to provide a means of readily accessible emergency egress.