Blue Bird Equipment Adaptive / Mobility Recall 14V511000

The problem

Blue Bird Body Company (Blue Bird) is recalling certain model year 2007-2015 All American, 2007-2010 Micro Bird, and 2007-2014 Vision non-school buses equipped with certain model S2005, S2010, S5005, S5010, S5505, and S5510 wheelchair lifts manufactured by Ricon Corporation. The platform side plate of the affected wheelchair lifts may crack.

The risk

If the platform side plates crack, the lift platform can separate from the lift and come to rest against the vehicle's lift door. When the doors are opened, the platform may fall out, increasing the risk of injury to the lift operator.

The fix

Blue Bird will notify owners to take buses to a Ricon dealer or service center who will install supplemental platform support bumpers. Any platform that has already started cracking will be replaced, free of charge. The recall began on October 1, 2014. Owners may contact Blue Bird customer service at 1-478-822-2242 or Ricon customer service at 1-800-322-2884. Blue Bird's number for this recall is R14XN.

Contacts

Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

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 14V511000.
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
2007 Blue Bird All American	4	21	F
2008 Blue Bird All American	4	32	F
2009 Blue Bird All American	3	33	F
2010 Blue Bird All American	0	42	F
2011 Blue Bird All American	0	35	F
2012 Blue Bird All American	0	30	F
2013 Blue Bird All American	1	28	F
2014 Blue Bird All American	0	26	F
2015 Blue Bird All American	3	27	F
2007 Blue Bird Micro Bird	0	10	F
2008 Blue Bird Micro Bird	0	16	F
2009 Blue Bird Micro Bird	0	14	F
2010 Blue Bird Micro Bird	0	12	F
2007 Blue Bird Vision	0	21	B
2008 Blue Bird Vision	1	30	C
2009 Blue Bird Vision	6	28	C
2010 Blue Bird Vision	2	25	C
2011 Blue Bird Vision	0	22	C
2012 Blue Bird Vision	1	19	B
2013 Blue Bird Vision	2	25	C
2014 Blue Bird Vision	0	22	C

Vehicle

Complaints

Recalls

Grade

2007 Blue Bird All American

2008 Blue Bird All American

2009 Blue Bird All American

2010 Blue Bird All American

2011 Blue Bird All American

2012 Blue Bird All American

2013 Blue Bird All American

2014 Blue Bird All American

2015 Blue Bird All American

2007 Blue Bird Micro Bird

2008 Blue Bird Micro Bird

2009 Blue Bird Micro Bird

2010 Blue Bird Micro Bird

2007 Blue Bird Vision

2008 Blue Bird Vision

2009 Blue Bird Vision

2010 Blue Bird Vision

2011 Blue Bird Vision

2012 Blue Bird Vision

2013 Blue Bird Vision

2014 Blue Bird Vision

Questions

Is the 14V511000 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 14V511000?

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 14V511000 announced?

Blue Bird Body Company reported it to NHTSA on August 19, 2014. Owners are usually notified by mail within about two months.

Equipment adaptive / mobility Blue Bird recall