2003 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN — Problems, Recalls & Safety Data
N/A
Safety Rating
2
Owner Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Service Bulletins
0
Investigations
Overview of the 2003 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN
The 2003 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN has received a total of 2 safety complaints filed with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). There have been 11 recall campaigns affecting this vehicle, covering issues with ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY, OTHER:SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM ASSEMBLY. The most commonly reported problem area is the Fuel System Diesel (1 complaint).
Recalls for the 2003 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN
NHTSA has recorded 11 recalls for the 2003 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN, potentially affecting up to 33,869 vehicles.
Recall 09V205000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION
| 2,203 vehicles affected
Defect: BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 2,203 MODEL YEAR 2003 THROUGH 2010 ALL AMERICAN REAR ENGINE SCHOOL BUSES EQUIPPED WITH OPTIONAL PLUG STYLE VANDAL LOCKS MANUFACTURED FROM JULY 16, 2003 THROUGH APRIL 10, 2009. THE PLUG STYLE VANDAL LOCK IS NOT WIRED TO INHIBIT THE STARTER AT THE IGNITION SWITCH WHEN THE VANDAL LOCK IS IN THE LOCKED POSITION. THESE BUSES FAIL...
Consequence: THE VEHICLES CAN BE STARTED AND DRIVEN EVEN WHEN AN OWNER MAY THINK THEY CANNOT.
Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL BEGAN ON JUNE 25, 2009. OWNER MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-422-2242.
View full details →Recall 05V382000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
| 5,863 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: SHOULD THE BUS SHUT DOWN WHILE IN OPERATION, A VEHICLE CRASH COULD OCCUR.
Remedy: 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.
View full details →Recall 05V251000 — OTHER:SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM ASSEMBLY
| 3,121 vehicles affected
Defect: 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,...
Consequence: 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: 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...
View full details →Recall 05V239000 — OTHER:SCHOOL BUS STOP ARM ASSEMBLY
| 8,894 vehicles affected
Defect: 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...
Consequence: 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: 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...
View full details →Recall 05V074000 — ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
| 416 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN 2002-2006 MY BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES, CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUSES, AND COMMERCIAL SERIES TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED BETWEEN DECEMBER 21, 2002, AND FEBRUARY 24, 2005. THESE BUSES ARE EQUIPPED WITH WEBASTO COOLANT HEATERS, MODEL DBW 2010, ASSEMBLED WITH WEBASTO BURNER TUBES, P/N 303046/26533A MANUFACTURED BETWEEN NOVEMBER 2002 AND FEBRUARY 2005. THE STAINLESS STEEL BURNER TUBE IS MADE...
Consequence: SHOULD THE BURNER TUBE FAIL, THE COOLANT HEATER COULD OVERHEAT, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN A FIRE.
Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND REPLACE THE BURNER TUBES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON MARCH 31, 2005. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
View full details →Recall 03V362000 — SEAT BELTS:FRONT:ANCHORAGE
| 233 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN REAR ENGINE (A3RE) SCHOOL BUSES, THE TYPE AND LOCATION OF THE FASTENERS USED TO RETAIN THE SEAT BELT IN THE LAST ROW OF SEATS DOES NOT CONFORM TO BLUE BIRD ENGINEERING SPECIFICATIONS.
Consequence: THIS INSTALLATION MAY NOT ADEQUATELY RETAIN SEAT BELTS IN THE EVENT OF A SEVERE CRASH.
Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL PROVIDE ITS DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS THE PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS TO INSTALL THE CORRECT FASTENERS FREE OF CHARGE. OWNER NOTIFICATION IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN NOVEMBER 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO DO NOT RECEIVE THE PARTS AND INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS WITHIN...
View full details →Recall 03V363000 — STRUCTURE:BODY
| 8,088 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN SCHOOL BUSES FAIL TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, "SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH." ONE OR MORE OF THE BOLTS ATTACHING THE DRIVER'S PLATFORM TO THE FLOOR STRUCTURE WAS OMITTED.
Consequence: THE REAR OF THE DRIVER'S PLATFORM MAY NOT BE PROPERLY RETAINED IN THE EVENT OF A CRASH WHICH COULD INCREASE THE RISK OF INJURY OR DEATH TO PASSENGERS.
Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY ITS CUSTOMERS AND INSPECT AND REPAIR THE AFFECTED UNITS. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 20, 2003. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE...
View full details →Recall 03V364000 — SEATS
| 3,825 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: 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: 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...
View full details →Recall 02V302000 — SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC:FOUNDATION COMPONENTS:HOSES, LINES/PIPING, AND FITTINGS
| 485 vehicles affected
Defect: 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.
Consequence: IF THIS OCCURS, VEHICLE BRAKING COULD BE AFFECTED, INCREASING THE RISK OF A CRASH.
Remedy: 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...
View full details →Recall 02V217000 — ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:WIRING
| 255 vehicles affected
Defect: ON CERTAIN REAR ENGINE SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH CUMMINS ISB ENGINES, THE WIRING HARNESS TO THE COMBUSTION AIR INTAKE GRID HEATER COULD CHAFE AGAINST ENGINE COMPONENTS.
Consequence: THE HARNESS CAN WEAR THROUGH CAUSING AN ELECTRICAL SHORT IN THE GRID HEATER POWER SUPPLY, INCREASING THE RISK OF A FIRE.
Remedy: OWNERS WILL BE CONTACTED AND ADVISED TO ADD A BRACKET TO SUPPORT THE HARNESS AWAY FROM THE ENGINE COMPONENTS. BLUE BIRD WILL PROVIDE A REPLACEMENT HARNESS FOR ANY HARNESSES FOUND ABRADED AND WILL REIMBURSE THE CUSTOMER FOR THE LABOR REQUIRED...
View full details →Recall 05V152000 — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
| 486 vehicles affected
Defect: CERTAIN 2001 THROUGH 2005 ALL AMERICAN, COMMERCIAL SERIES, AND Q-BUS SCHOOL AND TRANSIT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH JOHN DEERE 8.1 CNG ENGINES. THE SUBJECT BUSES EQUIPPED WITH THE JOHN DEERE ENGINES MAY SURGE INAPPROPRIATELY DUE TO ERRACTIC OPERATION OF THE AIR THROTTLE IF THE ENGINE IS TAKEN FROM FULL TO ZERO LOAD.
Consequence: UNEXPECTED ENGINE SURGE COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE CRASH, POSSIBLY RESULTING IN PERSONAL INJURY.
Remedy: JOHN DEERE WILL NOTIFY BLUE BIRD'S CUSTOMERS AND REPAIR THE ENGINES FREE OF CHARGE. CUSTOMERS ARE BEING INSTRUCTED TO CONTACT JOHN DEERE AT 1-800-JD-ENGINE.
View full details →Owner Complaints for the 2003 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN
2 complaints have been filed with NHTSA for the 2003 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN. Below is a breakdown by vehicle component.
| Component | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuel System Diesel | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Structurebody | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Most Recent Complaints
MAIN FRAME RAILS CRACKING. FOUND BY MICHIGAN STATE POLICE INSPECTOR. BUS IS RED TAGGED AND RENDERED UNUSUABLE.
WE PURCHASE 10 NEW BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL BUSES THROUGH OUR LOCAL AUTHORIZED DEALER, WITHIN A MONTH OF RECEIVING THE 10 UNIT THEY STAR PRESENTING CODE 368 RED FAILURE, CAUSING LOSS OF POWER, WHITE SMOKE AND STALLING, THIS WAS REPORTER TO THE DISTRIBUTOR AND THEY REPLACED FUEL FILTERS AND SUGGESTED THAT THERE WAS HUMIDITY IN THE ECM. THIS SAME CODE FAILURE HAS OVERCOME ALL OF OUR UNIT IN THE LAST PAST 3 YEARS TO THE EXTENT THAT NOW WE ARE FACED WITH THE REPLACEMENT OF THE VP44 INJECTION PUMP A VERY COSTLY INVESTMENT FOR UNIT THAT HAVE EXTREMELY LOW MILEAGE (AVERAGE OF 35,000 KMS). WE HAVE FOLLOWED A VERY STICK PREVENTIVE MAINTENANCE SCHEDULE FOR ALL OUR UNIT ACCORDING TO THE MANUALS SUPPLIED THUS AFTER SUSPECTING THAT THERE COULD BE A MANUFACTURE PROBLEM WE STARTED INVESTIGATING OVER THE INTERNET AND EFFECTIVELY WE FOUND THAT THE CUMMINS 225 ISB MOTOR HAVE A HISTORY OF THIS VERY SAME PROBLEM WHICH RELATED BUT THERE ARE NON YET THAT COVER OUR UNIT, SO WE CONSIDER IT IMPORT THAT ALONG WITH ANY OTHERS OF THE SAME MALFUNCTIONING UNITS WE CAN HAVE A RECALL CONSIDERED. *JB
Safety Rating for the 2003 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN
NHTSA has not yet tested the 2003 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN in its New Car Assessment Program.
Technical Service Bulletins for the 2003 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN
No technical service bulletins have been reported for this vehicle.
NHTSA Investigations for the 2003 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN
There are no NHTSA defect investigations on record for this vehicle.
Other Model Years of the BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN
- 1998 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN — 1 complaint
- 1999 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN — 0 complaints
- 2000 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN — 0 complaints
- 2001 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN — 2 complaints
- 2002 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN — 1 complaint
- 2003 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN (current)
- 2004 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN — 10 complaints
- 2005 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN — 1 complaint
- 2006 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN — 2 complaints
- 2007 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN — 5 complaints
- 2008 BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN — 5 complaints
Other BLUE BIRD Models
- BLUE BIRD SCHOOL BUS — 50 total complaints
- BLUE BIRD TC2000 — 38 total complaints
- BLUE BIRD BLUE BIRD — 27 total complaints
- BLUE BIRD VISION — 24 total complaints
- BLUE BIRD CONVENTIONAL — 20 total complaints
- BLUE BIRD WANDERLODGE M450 LXI — 17 total complaints
- BLUE BIRD SBCV — 12 total complaints
- BLUE BIRD ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL BUS — 9 total complaints