2003 Blue Bird TC2000 recalls and problems

The 2003 Blue Bird TC2000 has 6 recalls and 8 owner complaints on file with NHTSA; the most reported problem area is service brakes.

How the 2003 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

6recalls

8complaints

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.

Check your VIN →

6 recalls

Electrical System

Aug 31, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V382000 · 5,863 vehicles

Problem: Certain 2001 through 2006 my Blue Bird all american, TC2000, and vision transit school buses manufactured between January 5, 2001, and July 15, 2005. These buses are equipped with a battery disconnect switch that has connections that May be loose on the battery switch studs creating the potential for the bus to shut down while in operation.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN 2001 THROUGH 2006 MY BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN, TC2000, AND VISION TRANSIT SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN JANUARY 5, 2001, AND JULY 15, 2005. THESE BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH A BATTERY DISCONNECT SWITCH THAT HAS CONNECTIONS THAT MAY BE LOOSE ON THE BATTERY SWITCH STUDS CREATING THE POTENTIAL FOR THE BUS TO SHUT DOWN WHILE IN OPERATION.

Risk: Should the bus shut down while in operation, a vehicle crash could occur.

Original NHTSA wording

SHOULD THE BUS SHUT DOWN WHILE IN OPERATION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.

Remedy & notes

Blue Bird will notify its owners and instruct them on how to repair the switch. The recall began on October 19 , 2005. Owners May contact Blue Bird at 478-822-2242.

Blue Bird recall no. R05ka.customers May 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.

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.

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).

Service Brakes

Nov 13, 2002 · NHTSA campaign 02V302000 · 485 vehicles

Problem: On certain front engine school and transit buses equipped with hydraulic brakes, the rear hydraulic brake hose could contact the frame rail and abrade, allowing brake fluid leakage.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN FRONT ENGINE SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH HYDRAULIC BRAKES, THE REAR HYDRAULIC BRAKE HOSE COULD CONTACT THE FRAME RAIL AND ABRADE, ALLOWING BRAKE FLUID LEAKAGE.

Risk: If this occurs, vehicle braking could be affected, increasing the risk of a crash.

Original NHTSA wording

IF THIS OCCURS, VEHICLE BRAKING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will inspect the rear brake hose to frame rail clearance and reposition the brake hose clamps at the axle to ensure adequate clearance. Any chafed brake hoses will be replaced. Owner notification began December 12, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer 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.

What owners complain about

Service Brakes7

Fuel System1

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

NHTSA investigations

SCHOOL BUS STALLS

PE05028 · opened May 25, 2005 · closed Sep 27, 2005 · led to recall 05V382000

Summary

THIS INVESTIGATION WAS OPENED AFTER ODI RECEIVED A COMPLAINT FROM A SCHOOL BUS FLEET REPORTING THAT THREE SEPARATE BUSES HAD STALLED UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE THEY WERE LOADED WITH CHILDREN.REPORTEDLY, EACH TIME THE FAILURE OCCURRED THE MASTER BATTERY SHUT-OFF SWITCH WAS IDENTIFIED AS BEING DEFECTIVE.ODI OPENED THIS INVESTIGATION TO GATHER SPECIFIC INFORMATION AND DETAILS INTO THESE ALLEGATIONS.AS A RESULT OF ODI?S INVESTIGATION, BLUE BIRD HAS AGREED TO INITATE A SAFETY RECALL TO REPLACE THE STANDARD NUT ON THE 10/32 STUD WITH A LOCKING NUT, CHECK FOR PROPER WIRING INSTALLATION , AND REPOSITION THE WIRES SO THAT THEY DO NOT STRESS THE STUD.A COPY OF THE RECALL IS ATTACHED.BLUE BIRD'S ACTION RESOLVES THE ISSUES RAISED BY THIS INVESTIGATION AND THEREFORE, THIS INVESTIGATION IS CLOSED.

2003 vs. other Blue Bird TC2000 years

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

Questions

Does the 2003 Blue Bird TC2000 have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Blue Bird TC2000, the latest from Aug 31, 2005 (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 2003 Blue Bird TC2000?

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA most often mention service brakes (7), fuel system (1). Complaints are consumer reports and are not verified by NHTSA.