2003 Blue Bird Ultra Lf recalls and problems

The 2003 Blue Bird Ultra Lf has 5 recalls and 0 owner complaints on file with NHTSA.

How the 2003 compares

Too few model years with complaints to compare.

5recalls
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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5 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

Feb 5, 2013 · NHTSA campaign 13V036000 · 152 vehicles

Problem: Blue Bird Corporation is recalling certain model year Ultra LF transit buses manufactured March 14, 2003, through March 12, 2007. Cracks may develop in the bracket which secures the power steering gear to the bus frame.

Risk: If left unchecked, the cracks may propagate and cause a separation of the steering gear from the bus frame. This would result in a loss of steering control, possibly increasing the risk of a vehicle crash.

Remedy & notes

Blue Bird will notify owners, and dealers will install reinforcement plates, free of charge. The recall began on March 20, 2013. Owners may contact Blue Bird at 1-478-825-2021.

Blue Bird's recall campaign number is R13WA.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.

Structure

Jun 15, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V281000 · 45 vehicles

Problem: On certain commercialtransit buses equipped with vapor door assemblies, the two piece curved connecting rods when used as an element of the door actuation linkage in conjunction with a vapor medium pneumatic differential engine, May be subject to fatigue failure resulting in bending or breaking of the connecting rod.

Original NHTSA wording

ON CERTAIN COMMERCIALTRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH VAPOR DOOR ASSEMBLIES, THE TWO PIECE CURVED CONNECTING RODS WHEN USED AS AN ELEMENT OF THE DOOR ACTUATION LINKAGE IN CONJUNCTION WITH A VAPOR MEDIUM PNEUMATIC DIFFERENTIAL ENGINE, MAY BE SUBJECT TO FATIGUE FAILURE RESULTING IN BENDING OR BREAKING OF THE CONNECTING ROD.

Risk: A broken connecting rod can allow the door panel to move freely in an uncontrolled manner, leaving passengers inside the vehicle unprotected by the door panel and enabling a protruding door panel to strike persons or objects outside the vehicle.

Original NHTSA wording

A BROKEN CONNECTING ROD CAN ALLOW THE DOOR PANEL TO MOVE FREELY IN AN UNCONTROLLED MANNER, LEAVING PASSENGERS INSIDE THE VEHICLE UNPROTECTED BY THE DOOR PANEL AND ENABLING A PROTRUDING DOOR PANEL TO STRIKE PERSONS OR OBJECTS OUTSIDE THE VEHICLE.

Remedy & notes

Blue Bird is working with vapor bus International to notify owners and have the repair performed on their vehicles. The remedy consists of replacing the two piece connecting rod with a one piece connecting rod. The recall began on October 18, 2005. Owners May contact Blue Bird at 478-822-2242 or vapor at 847-777-6400.

Blue Bird recall no. R04jy.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.

Structure

Jan 24, 2005 · NHTSA campaign 05V014000 · 59 vehicles

Problem: Certain transit buses fail to comply with the requirements of federal motor vehicle safety standard no. 217, "bus emergency exits and window retention and release." the striker plates at the bottom of the emergency pushout windows can wear a groove into the emergency release bolt. If this groove becomes deep enough, the emergency push window May fail to open as intended when released.

Original NHTSA wording

CERTAIN TRANSIT BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 217, "BUS EMERGENCY EXITS AND WINDOW RETENTION AND RELEASE." THE STRIKER PLATES AT THE BOTTOM OF THE EMERGENCY PUSHOUT WINDOWS CAN WEAR A GROOVE INTO THE EMERGENCY RELEASE BOLT. IF THIS GROOVE BECOMES DEEP ENOUGH, THE EMERGENCY PUSH WINDOW MAY FAIL TO OPEN AS INTENDED WHEN RELEASED.

Risk: In the event of an emergency, failure of the pushout window could potentially trap passengers or delay their escape, increasing the risk of injury.

Original NHTSA wording

IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY, FAILURE OF THE PUSHOUT WINDOW COULD POTENTIALLY TRAP PASSENGERS OR DELAY THEIR ESCAPE, INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY.

Remedy & notes

Dealers will ship repair parts and installation instructions to the bus owners. The recall began on February 21, 2005. Owners May contact Blue Bird at 478-825-2021.

Blue Bird recall no. R05jf.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.

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).

Recall text as published by NHTSA and the manufacturer.

2003 vs. other Blue Bird Ultra Lf years

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

Questions

Does the 2003 Blue Bird Ultra Lf have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 5 recall campaigns covering the 2003 Blue Bird Ultra Lf, 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 2003 Blue Bird Ultra Lf?

Few complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 Blue Bird Ultra Lf.