NHTSA Complaint #10508882 — 2002 BLUE BIRD A3RE

DURING ANNUAL INSPECTION BY THE STATE HIGHWAY PATROL, AN APPROXIMATELY 2" LONG HORIZONTAL LINE OF RUST WAS DISCOVERED NEAR THE DRIVER-SIDE SHOCK MOUNT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE FRAME RAIL. IT WAS DETERMINED THIS WAS A HAIRLINE CRACK. INSPECTORS MENTIONED THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER BLUE BIRD SCHOOL BUSES IN NW OHIO. AFTER CALLING OTHER SCHOOLS, IT WAS DISCOVERED THAT SOME NEARBY HAD EXPERIENCED THIS ON ALL AMERICAN FORWARD ENGINE UNITS. IN SPEAKING WITH THE BLUE BIRD DEALERSHIP, IT WAS STATED THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED ON OTHER BLUE BIRD UNITS; THE DEALERSHIP ALSO EXPRESSED OBVIOUS APPREHENSION ABOUT MAKING THE REPAIR TO THE BUS. ANOTHER ENTITY WAS LOCATED TO MAKE THE REPAIR AT A COST OF NEARLY $1,000. *TR