1991 Blue Bird Conventional Recalls

CERTAIN BLUE BIRD CONVENTIONAL SCHOOL BUSES BUILT WITH AN OPTIONAL FIREWALL HEATER HOSE CONNECTOR ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE OF THE BUS AND MANUFACTURED FROM NOVEMBER 21, 1985, THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14, 1993.

IN THE EVENT THE HEATER HOSE RUPTURE SOR THE HOSE CONNECTION SEPARATES, HOT ENGINE COOLANT MAY CONTACT THE DRIVER AND MAY CAUSE INJURY.

BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THESE BUSES BY INSTALLING A METAL PROTECTIVE SHIELD OVER THE HEATER HOSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE RECALL BEGAN ON JANUARY 15, 2008. OWNERS CAN CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 478-822-2242.

VEHICLE DESCRIPTION: SCHOOL BUSES. THE WALL SIDE ATTACHING BOLTS FOR SOME OF THE PASSENGER SEATS MAY HAVE BEEN INSTALLED TOO CLOSE TO THE EDGE OF THE SEAT LEDGE AND IN THE WRONG ATTACHING HOLE RESULTING IN WEAKENING OF THE SEAT LEDGE AT THE ATTACHMENT POINTS.

IN THE EVENT OF A FRONTAL CRASH, THE REAR ATTACHING BOLT OF THESE SEATS COULD PULL OUT OF THE SEAT LEDGE INCREASING THE RISK OF INJURY TO THE SEAT OCCUPANT.

BLUE BIRD WILL FURNISH TO DISTRIBUTORS AND OWNERS, PARTS AND INSTRUCTIONS NECESSARY TO STRENGTHEN THE PASSENGER SEAT ATTACHMENT AT THE WALL SIDE.

PASSENGER'S CLOTHING CAN UNKNOWINGLY BECOME CAUGHT IN THE FORWARD HANDRAILS AT BUS DOORS WHEN EXITING THE BUS.

WHEN A PASSENGER'S CLOTHING BECOMES CAUGHT IN THE HANDRAIL, AND THE BUS DRIVER CLOSES THE DOOR AND PUTS THE VEHICLE IN MOTION, THE INDIVIDUAL IS SUBJECT TO BEING DRAGGED BY THE BUS. THIS CAN RESULT IN SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH.

OWNERS WILL BE DIRECTED TO REMOVE ALL FORWARD HANDRAILS. PROVISIONS WILL BE MADE FOR THOSE OWNERS OPERATING IN STATES WHICH MANDATE A FORWARD HANDRAIL THAT A REPLACEMENT HANDRAIL WILL BE PROVIDED.

A WELD IN THE DOOR LOCK ASSEMBLY USED ON REAR AND/OR SIDE EMERGENCY DOORS CAN BE OVERSTRESSED AND BREAK. WHEN THIS OCCURS, A CLOSED DOOR CANNOT BE OPENED, OR IF OPEN IT CANNOT BE LATCHED.

AN EMERGENCY DOOR THAT WILL NOT OPEN PRESENTS ANINCREASED RISK OF INJURY TO PASSENGERS ATTEMPTING TO LEAVE A BUS IN ANEMERGENCY SITUATION. A DOOR LOCK WHICH WILL NOT CLOSE PRESENTS A RISK OF APASSENGER ACCIDENTALLY FALLING OUT OF THE BUS.

REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE DOOR LOCKS.

THE ELECTRIC VANDAL LOCK CENTER PLUNGER CAN TAP THE CONTROL LOCK PIN, OF THE OUTWARD OPENING DOOR, WHICH CAUSES THE DOOR LOCK TO BECOME DISENGAGED.

THE DISENGAGED DOOR LOCK ALLOWS THE DOOR TO OPEN WITHOUTPRIOR WARNING AND ENDANGER OCCUPANTS NEAR THE DOOR IF THE VEHICLE IS IN MOTION.

MODIFY THE VANDAL DOOR LOCKS WITH BLUE BIRD SUPPLIED KITS.

SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR LOCKS UP WITH THE BELT IN THE STOWED POSITION.

WHEN THE RETRACTOR LOCKS UP WITH THE BELT IN THE STOWEDPOSITION , THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO USE THE SAFETY BELTS, RESULTING IN INCREASEDRISK OF INJURY IN A SUDDEN STOP OR ACCIDENT.

MODIFICATION KITS WILL BE SHIPPED DIRECTLY TO THE OWNER FOR MODIFICATION OF THE SAFETY BELT RETRACTOR.