NHTSA Complaint #719361 — 1995 BLUE BIRD BUSES

BLUBIRD BUS MFG. CHOSE TO USE SUBSTANDARD FUEL LINES ON THE SCHOOL BUSES THAT WE PURCHASED FROM THEM. THE LINES ARE OF THIN RUBBER WITH ONLY ONE CANVAS PLY AND ARE NOT COMPATABLE WITH DIESEL FUEL. THE FUEL PERMEATES THROUGH THIS HOSE THROUGH IT'S ENTIRE SURFACE. BLUEBIRD IS NOT OFFERING ANY REMEDY FOR THIS. WE HAVE BEEN SPENDING CONSIDERABLE RESOURCES REPLACING LINES OURSELVES. FUMES ACCUMULATE IN THE LARGE UNDER-BODY STORAGE COMPARTMENTS AND THEN ENTER THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT. SEVERAL STUDENTS AND DRIVERS HAVE BEEN OVERCOME WITH THE SMELL OF DIESEL. WE HAVE NOT HAD ANY FIRES OR EXPLOSIONS. FUEL LINE NORMALLY DOES NOT NEED TO BE SPECIFIED DURING NEW VEHICLE PURCHASES. THIS LINE IS NOT ONLY SUBSTANDARD FOR ANY COMMERCIAL VEHICLE, BUT IS STILL FURTHER UNFIT FOR ANY SCHOOL BUS. YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATER WOULD BE APPRECIATED BY ALL. *AK