Defect: 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 t (excerpt)
Consequence: Once electrically conductive, the material is capable of melting and burning, increasing the risk of a fire. (excerpt)
Remedy: 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. (excerpt)
Defect: BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 33 MY 2006-2007 EXPRESS 4500 MOTOR COACHES EQUIPPED WITH MAC TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES THAT DID NOT MEET DESIGN SPECIFICATION. AS A RESULT, THE LEFT AND/OR RIGHT TIE ROD ASSEMBLY MAY FRACTURE AT HIGH MILEAGE.
Consequence: A FRACTURE TIE ROD MAY SEPARATE WITHOUT PRIOR WARNING CAUSING UNEXPECTED LOSS OF VEHICLE STEERING. IN SOME MANEUVERS THIS COULD CAUSE A CRASH.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL REPLACE THE LEFT AND RIGHT HAND TIE ROD ASSEMBLIES WITH A REDESIGNED TIE ROD ASSEMBLY FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JULY 11, 2008. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.
Defect: ON CERTAIN MOTOR COACHES, THE CASTLE NUTS ON THE TIE ROD ENDS AND RELAY ROD STUDS IN THE INDEPENDENT SUSPENSION ASSEMBLIES ARE LOOSE AND/OR NOT TIGHTENED TO SPECIFICATIONS. LOW AND/OR NO TORQUE ON A NUT CAN RESULT IN EXCESSIVE SLACK IN THE STEERING SYSTEM, THEREBY ALLOWING THE TAPERED JOINT TO MOVE AND SUBSEQUENTLY SHEAR THE COTTER PIN.
Consequence: THIS CONDITION CAN RESULT IN THE STEERING LINK TO BECOME DISCONNECTED AND CAUSE A LOSS OF STEERING CONTROL WHICH COULD RESULT IN A CRASH.
Remedy: BLUE BIRD IS WORKING WITH ARVIN-MERITOR TO REPAIR THESE COACHES (PLEASE SEE 07E094). THE RECALL BEGAN ON NOVEMBER 19, 2007. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-822-2242.
Do not drive: No. Park outside: No.
Investigations
0 investigations; 0 open.
Manufacturer communications
3 manufacturer communications.
Communications by system
System
Count
EQUIPMENT
2
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
1
10128907
Date: 2016-12-08. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
New Blue Bird Support Center - Technical Bus Support: Dealer memo to announce the new on-line Blue Bird Support Center for technical bus support requests.
10128588
Date: 2016-01-14. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: EQUIPMENT.
Blue Bird Troubleshooting Guides: Blue Bird announcement of the addition of troubleshooting guides for assisting in the service of the Blue Bird products. These troubleshooting guides are available on the Vantage website.
10043252
Date: 2007-05-01. Type: Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions. Systems: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
COACHWORKS EXPRESS: ON SOME MODEL YEAR COACHES, THE ALTERNATOR MOUNTING TABS AND ALTERNATOR MOUNTING BOLT TORQUE CRACKING/BREAKING ON BOTH ALTERNATORS. *PE
Notes on this record
Complaints from the API and bulk file are merged and deduplicated by ODI number; the API alone misses records.
System and subsystem counts are numbers of distinct complaints, recalls or communications that name them. One record can name several systems, so shares across systems can add to more than 100 percent; a single share never exceeds 100 percent.
Recalls are counted once per campaign, investigations once per action and manufacturer communications once per NHTSA id, even when NHTSA lists several model names for the same record.
A sales denominator is a calendar-year proxy, not the population of vehicles still in use. Rates are copied from verified pipeline output.
NHTSA's complaints API and bulk file list no complaint for this make, model and model year in this data build.