Blue Bird Body Recall 03V363000 (8,088 Vehicles)

The problem

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.

The risk

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.

The fix

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 free remedy within a reasonable time should contact blue bird at 478-822-2242.

Contacts

Also, customers can contact the national highway traffic safety administration's auto safety hotline at 1-888-dash-2-dot (1-888-327-4236).

What to do

Check your VIN. Enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls - it shows whether this recall applies to your vehicle and whether the repair has been done.
Call a dealer. Any authorized Blue Bird dealer will do the repair free, whether or not you bought the vehicle there. Quote campaign 03V363000.
Ask about parts and a loaner. If parts aren't available yet, ask what to do in the meantime.
Keep your paperwork. If you paid for this repair before the recall, you may be able to get reimbursed - here's how.

Vehicle	Complaints	Recalls	Grade
1999 Blue Bird All American	0	16	D
2000 Blue Bird All American	0	16	D
2001 Blue Bird All American	1	14	D
2002 Blue Bird All American	1	14	D
2003 Blue Bird All American	2	11	C
2004 Blue Bird All American	10	15	D
1991 Blue Bird TC2000	0	12	C
1992 Blue Bird TC2000	0	15	C
1993 Blue Bird TC2000	0	15	C
1994 Blue Bird TC2000	0	15	C
1995 Blue Bird TC2000	0	18	D
1996 Blue Bird TC2000	0	14	C
1997 Blue Bird TC2000	0	8	B
1998 Blue Bird TC2000	0	17	D
1999 Blue Bird TC2000	0	15	C
2000 Blue Bird TC2000	0	12	C

Vehicle

Complaints

Recalls

Grade

1999 Blue Bird All American

2000 Blue Bird All American

2001 Blue Bird All American

2002 Blue Bird All American

2003 Blue Bird All American

2004 Blue Bird All American

1991 Blue Bird TC2000

1992 Blue Bird TC2000

1993 Blue Bird TC2000

1994 Blue Bird TC2000

1995 Blue Bird TC2000

1996 Blue Bird TC2000

1997 Blue Bird TC2000

1998 Blue Bird TC2000

1999 Blue Bird TC2000

2000 Blue Bird TC2000

Questions

Is the 03V363000 recall repair free?

Yes. Federal law requires the manufacturer to fix safety recalls free of charge. BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY's dealers do the work; the remedy is described above.

How do I know if my vehicle is part of recall 03V363000?

Not every vehicle of a listed model year is included. Enter your 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or call a dealer with your VIN.

When was recall 03V363000 announced?

BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY reported it to NHTSA on October 8, 2003. Owners are usually notified by mail within about two months.

Structure: body Blue Bird recall